STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2151

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2354

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 2354 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require barber, beauty operator, and instructor licensees under the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology to complete a one-time, three-hour training program on intimate partner violence awareness and education.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, County of Hawai‘i; Commission on the Status of Women; Advocacy Committee, YWCA O‘ahu; Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest and Hawaii; YWCA O‘ahu; American Association of University Women - Hawai‘i; Domestic Violence Action Center; Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence; Women's Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i; and eight individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology.

Your Committee finds that intimate partner violence is prevalent in every community and affects people regardless of age, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, gender, race, religion, or nationality. Professionals in the grooming and beauty industry may have a unique opportunity to notice signs of abuse in their clients. These professionals often enjoy close relationships with their clients, which can put a grooming or beauty professional in the position to provide advice, resource information, and assistance.

The Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence indicated in testimony before your Committee that the Coalition met with the members of the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology and came to an agreement that the Coalition would provide a one-hour training and overview, either in person or via webinar, with an offer to the Board's licensees and applicants for additional training if a licensee or applicant is interested. This training will equip barbering and cosmetology licensees and applicants with a basic knowledge about intimate partner violence and provide them with resources to offer their clients. According to the Coalition, the expectation is not for these licensees and applicants to become advocates or experts in domestic violence. Rather, the one-hour training and overview merely gives these individuals information about what to watch out for, the general dynamics of intimate partner violence, and where resources on this subject can be found.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by clarifying that barber, beauty operator, and instructor licensees under the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology are required to complete a one-time, one-hour, rather than three-hour, training program on intimate partner violence.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2354, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2354, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health,

________________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair