STAND. COM. REP. NO. 903

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1137

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1137, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE SPOUSE AND CHILD ABUSE SPECIAL FUND,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to increase from $3,000,000 to $5,000,000 the maximum amount of unencumbered and unexpended moneys that may be retained in the spouse and child abuse special fund.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Human Services.

Your Committee recognizes the need to finance efforts for intervention in, and the prevention of, spouse and child abuse cases. Your Committee notes that the Department of Human Services anticipates that it will be able to begin drawing down certain federal reimbursement moneys for prevention services under the Family First Hawaii program. Accordingly, your Committee believes it is appropriate to ensure that the moneys that will be received will not lapse to the general fund, but will remain in the spouse and child special fund until the moneys may be used for their intended purpose.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

(2) Making technical nonsubstantive amendments 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. 1137, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1137, S.D. 2.

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

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair