STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1207

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: H.B. No. 437

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 437 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to authorize the Crime Victim Compensation Commission to provide compensation for mental health counseling services for:

(1) Surviving relatives of a deceased victim; and

(2) Children who witness domestic violence.

The Department of Health, Department of Public Safety, Hawai‘i State Commission on the Status of Women, Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu, Office of the Prosecuting Attorney of the County of Kaua‘i, The Sex Abuse Treatment Center, Hawai‘i Health & Harm Reduction Center, Hawai‘i Psychological Association, Parents And Children Together, Mental Health America of Hawai‘i, and O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i supported this measure. The Crime Victim Compensation Commission offered comments on this measure.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2030, to encourage further discussion on this measure; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 437, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 437, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair