STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2125

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2605

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 2605 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ASSAULT AGAINST A CHILD IN A CHILD CARE FACILITY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish a criminal offense of assault against a child in a child care facility.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Domestic Violence Survivor Advocate, Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, and Rainbow Family 808. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services and Honolulu Police Department.

Your Committee finds that child care facilities are an important and critical setting for the growth and development of a child. Your Committee further finds that parents and guardians who enroll their child at a child care facility trust that their child's health and well-being are taken care of and that safety is a priority.

Your Committee heard testimony from the Department of Human Services expressing concern that this measure might deter current child care providers from operating in the State and from the Honolulu Police Department expressing concern regarding enforceability of this measure. Your Committee finds that these issues merit further consideration and requests that that your Committee on Judiciary further examine them.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2605 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

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

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JOSH GREEN, Chair