STAND. COM. REP. NO. 231-20

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2020

RE: H.B. No. 2057

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Human Services & Homelessness, to which was referred H.B. No. 2057 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PROOF OF DOMESTIC OR SEXUAL VIOLENCE VICTIM STATUS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to standardize the types of documents accepted as proof of domestic or sexual violence victim status.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest and Hawaii, Domestic Violence Action Center, Hawaii Women's Coalition, Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, and three individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from CTIA.

Your Committee believes that making the types of documents accepted as proof of domestic or sexual violence victim status more consistent will ease the paperwork burden and stress for victims of domestic or sexual violence seeking essential services and assistance.

Your Committee notes that courts and rules of evidence allow for self-authenticating documents by certification or exemplification.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Specifying that certified or exemplified restraining orders, rather than valid restraining orders and records or files of a court or government agency are documents that will be accepted as proof of domestic or sexual violence victim status;

(2) Changing its effective date to December 31, 2059, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services & Homelessness that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2057, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2057, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

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

____________________________

JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair