STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2683

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2817

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 Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2817 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CRIME VICTIM COMPENSATION FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to authorize the Crime Victim Compensation Commission to order the payment of compensation for mental health services in certain cases.

Specifically, the measure authorizes payment for mental health services:

(1) In cases involving death of a victim, to the victim's surviving relatives; and

(2) In cases involving abuse of a family or household members, to a child witness.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Sex Abuse Treatment Center; OCC Legislative Priorities Committee, Democratic Party of Hawaii; and two concerned individuals.

Your Committee finds that this measure will allow the Crime Victim Compensation Commission to provide compensation for mental health counseling to certain individuals who could benefit from that counseling.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical nonsubstantive changes for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2817, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2817, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair