STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1312-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

RE:   H.C.R. No. 59

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 59 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY TO STUDY THE CORRELATION BETWEEN SEXUAL ABUSE AND POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER WITHIN THE STATE'S FEMALE PRISON POPULATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to reduce the emotional damage suffered by female inmates who are victims of sexual abuse in prison by requesting the Department of Public Safety to conduct a study examining the correlation between sexual abuse and post-traumatic stress disorder within the female inmate population.

A few concerned individuals supported this measure.  The Department of Public Safety supported the intent of this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1)  Requesting that the University of Hawaii conduct the study, rather than the Department of Public Safety; and

(2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style, including amending its title to read:  "HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII TO STUDY THE CORRELATION BETWEEN SEXUAL ABUSE AND POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER WITHIN THE STATE'S FEMALE PRISON POPULATION."

     Your Committee received testimony on this matter reflecting concern that the subject matter of the report was too narrow, as men who have experienced sexual abuse in prison exhibit similar symptoms.  Should your Committee on Finance choose to hear this measure, your Committee encourages further discussion of this consideration as this measure moves through the legislative process.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 59, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Public Safety in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 59, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services,

____________________________

MELE CARROLL, Chair