STAND. COM. REP. NO. 228-18

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2018

RE: H.B. No. 2135

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health & Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 2135 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to better protect victims of domestic violence by requiring that law enforcement and emergency medical services agencies include lethality assessments and domestic violence safety planning in its policies, procedures, and training in order to receive moneys from the emergency medical services special fund or federal funds awarded for the purpose of addressing domestic violence.

The Honolulu Police Department, a Maui County Councilmember, County of Hawaii Fire Department, Hawaii Women's Coalition, and three concerned individuals supported this measure. The Domestic Violence Action Center opposed this measure. The Department of Health and Honolulu Emergency Services Department offered comments for this measure.

The Honolulu Police Department requested clarification on the agency or organization that would provide the required training and the number of hours that would be necessary for a law enforcement agency to comply with the requirements in this measure.

Your Committee amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to promote further discussion.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health & Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2135, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2135, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health & Human Services,

____________________________

JOHN M. MIZUNO, Chair