STAND. COM. REP. NO. 764

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: H.B. No. 566

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 566 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ABUSE OF FAMILY OR HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to add coercive control between family or household members to the offense of abuse of family or household members as a petty misdemeanor.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest and Hawaii, Early Childhood Action Strategy, Hawai‘i State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Hawai‘i Women's Coalition, American Association of University Women of Hawaii, and one individual. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Office of the Public Defender. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu and Honolulu Police Department.

Your Committee finds that research has shown that exposure to sustained trauma within the first five years of life can have lasting effects on brain development and long-term health outcomes. Your Committee further finds that abuse and neglect of family members are on the rise in the State due to the stressors of the COVID-19 pandemic. Your Committee believes that adding coercive control between family or household members to the offense of abuse of family or household members as a petty misdemeanor would apply to many victims and would encourage them to come forward and seek a legal safety net for themselves and their loved ones.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 3021, to encourage further discussion.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 566, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 566, H.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

MARK M. NAKASHIMA, Chair