STAND. COM. REP. NO. 397

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 607

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

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. 607 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 surviving relatives in cases involving a deceased victim and for children who witness domestic violence in cases involving abuse of a family or household member.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Public Safety, Department of Health, Crime Victim Compensation Commission, Hawai‘i Psychological Association, Kapi‘olani Sex Abuse Treatment Center, O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, Mental Health America of Hawai‘i, Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, AAUW of Hawaii, and two individuals.

Your Committees find that surviving family members are profoundly impacted by the sometimes violent circumstances under which their loved one died. Often, survivors recall only the painful and violent details of their loved one's death instead of recalling pleasant memories while the victim was alive. Furthermore, witnessing domestic violence has a negative impact on children.

Your Committees further find that mental health counseling will help survivors move past their trauma. Additionally, mental health counseling for children who witness domestic violence is necessary to help them understand and heal from the trauma of what they witnessed and is vital to ensure their normal development.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that crime victim compensation is authorized for mental health services for child witnesses of abuse of a family member or household member; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

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. 607, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 607, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committees on Judiciary and 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