STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3035

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 14

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Human Services and Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 14 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, TO CONVENE A TASK FORCE TO ESTABLISH SAFE AND EFFECTIVE DISCIPLINE FOR ALL CHILDREN IN HAWAII,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to convene a task force on corporal punishment in support of the right of parents to use safe and effective methods of discipline and teaching that:

(1) Evaluates scientific research on the use of corporal punishment on children and the effects thereof;

(2) Recommends strategies to promote, and disseminate information on safe and effective methods of discipline; and

(3) Make a recommendation on whether corporal punishment of children by their parents or other caregivers should be banned or otherwise limited in Hawaii.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education, Hawai‘i Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Parents and Children Together, Early Childhood Action Strategy, Hawai‘i Children's Action Network Speaks!, and two individuals. Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual. Your Committees received comments from the Department of Human Services.

Your Committees find that The American Association of Pediatricians issued a statement in December of 2018, recommending parents not use any form of physical punishment due to documented negative impacts and lack of effectiveness. In 2006, the United Nations recommended a ban on corporal punishment. Accordingly, fifty-eight countries have passed legislation in furtherance of the United Nations' recommendation. In 1973, Hawaii was the third state to effectively ban corporal punishment in schools and a concurrent resolution was adopted in the 1990s disallowing corporal punishment in public-schools.

Your Committees further find that it is the appropriate time to consider whether corporal punishment of children by their parents should be banned through a systemic fashion of inquiry and analysis that furthers Hawaii's leadership in a movement to eliminate the purposeful infliction of pain and its negative consequences on children.

Your Committees heard the testimony of the Department of Human Services expressing concerns that it is not able to undertake this task as the lead agency, but your Committees respectfully urge the Department of Human Services to head the task force.

Your Committees have amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purpose of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services and Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 14, as amended herein, and recommend its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 14, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Human Services and Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health,

________________________________ ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair

________________________________ RUSSELL E. RUDERMAN, Chair