STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2172

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2817

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs and Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 2817 entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to authorize crime victim compensation for mental health services for survivors in cases involving a death and for children who witness domestic violence.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, County of Kaua‘i; Crime Victim Compensation Commission; Domestic Violence Action Center; Hawaii Psychological Association; Pacific Behavioral Health; The Sex Abuse Treatment Center; and four individuals.

Your Committees find that caring for those affected by violent crimes and domestic abuse is essential to maintaining public health, safety, and welfare. Existing law allows for the payment of compensation to certain classes of individuals impacted by certain violent deaths. Your Committees find that this type of compensation for affected individuals is important, helpful, and necessary and should be extended to those surviving relatives of a deceased victim who require mental health services in the wake of such a traumatic, life-altering event. In addition, your Committees find that the same type of compensation afforded those affected by violent deaths should also be extended to cases involving child witnesses to abuse of a family or household member where mental health services are required by the child witness.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs and Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2817 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs and Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health,

________________________________ ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair

________________________________ CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair