STAND. COM. REP. 2904

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2004

RE: H.B. No. 1860

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 1860, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to authorize a state income tax check-off system for taxpayers to designate $5 to the Hawaii Children's Trust Fund, Domestic Violence Prevention Special Fund, and the respective Spouse and Child Abuse Special Accounts under the Department of Human Services and the Judiciary.

Testimony in support of the measure was submitted by the Hawaii Children's Trust Fund, Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Sex Abuse Treatment Center, Blueprint for Change, National Association of Social Workers, Molokai Family Support Center, Keiki Injury Prevention Coalition, Hawaii Coalition for Dads, and Domestic Violence Clearinghouse and Hotline. The Department of Taxation submitted testimony in opposition and the Tax Foundation of Hawaii submitted comments.

Your Committee finds that child abuse and neglect prevention programs are severely underfunded. Currently, a majority of the funding is dedicated to physical abuse prevention programs with barely any funding going towards prevention of child neglect. This measure will not only provide a needed source of funding for these programs but will also create a venue to inform the general public about the importance of child abuse and neglect prevention.

Accordingly, this measure has been amended to reflect an earlier effective date of December 31, 2004 to facilitate the acquisition of the needed funds.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1860, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1860, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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

____________________________

SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair