STAND. COM. REP. NO. 826-20

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2020

RE: H.B. No. 2067

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 Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2067, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish a three-year pilot project to strengthen state and county responses to domestic violence and increase offender accountability by:

(1) Amending the offense of abuse of family or household members to provide for a lesser included petty misdemeanor offense and clarifying penalties for violations;

(2) Allowing a deferred acceptance of guilty plea in cases involving misdemeanor and petty misdemeanor abuse offenses, if certain conditions are met; and

(3) Requiring the Judiciary to submit annual reports to the Legislature on the number and outcome of abuse of family or household members cases.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney of the County of Kauai, Domestic Violence Action Center, American Association of University Women of Hawaii, and one individual. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Honolulu Police Department. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Judiciary, Department of the Attorney General, Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu, and Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

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. 2067, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair