Report Title:

Domestic Violence Working Group; Appropriation

 

Description:

Appropriates money to support the continued efforts of the Domestic Violence Working Group in examining the criminal justice response to domestic violence, identifying problems, and proposing, facilitating, and coordinating the implementation of effective solutions; specifies members. (SD1)

 

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

721

TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2001

S.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

making an appropriation for the domestic violence working group.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that domestic violence continues to be the greatest threat to the safety and welfare of families in our community. The Domestic Violence Working Group was established pursuant to H.C.R. 65, H.D. 1, by the 1999 legislature to review the policies and procedures of the criminal justice system as they relate to domestic violence among adults. The Domestic Violence Working Group submitted a report to the Twentieth Legislature, entitled "Domestic Violence and the Criminal Justice System in Hawaii," that identified problematic areas within the criminal justice system, as it relates to domestic violence, and proposed recommendations for future action. Some of the recommendations of the Domestic Violence Working Group involve improvement to the criminal justice system that require the monitoring and assessment of efforts to implement the proposed system changes. Furthermore, there remain critical issues regarding the criminal justice response to domestic violence that are so complex and deep rooted that they require more time and resources to develop and propose effective solutions. The Domestic Violence Working Group has demonstrated an ability to effectively examine these problematic issues and propose promising solutions, utilizing a broad based and collaborative approach.

The purpose of this Act is to provide the financial support necessary to ensure the continued efforts of the Domestic Violence Working Group in examining the criminal justice response to domestic violence and proposing workable solutions.

SECTION 2. The domestic violence working group described under section 1 of this Act shall include, but not be limited to the following participants:

(1) Domestic violence service providers;

(2) The Hawaii state coalition against domestic violence;

(3) One representative of the department of public safety;

(4) One representative of the Honolulu police department;

(5) One representative of the Honolulu prosecuting attorney's office;

(6) One representative each from the family court, district court, and circuit court;

(7) One representative from the Hawaii paroling authority;

(8) One representative from the adult probation division of the judiciary;

(9) One representative from the department of the attorney general; and

(10) One domestic violence victim or survivor.

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $10,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2001-2002, and the sum of $10,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2002-2003, to support the continued efforts of the Domestic Violence Working Group in examining the criminal justice response to domestic violence, identifying problems, and proposing, facilitating, and coordinating the implementation of effective solutions.

SECTION 4. The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of the attorney general for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2001.