THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

517

TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2017

S.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that research strongly indicates that domestic violence is one of the more predominant social issues in Hawaii.  Protecting those who are exposed to domestic violence and providing effective intervention responses are essential to public safety and the welfare of domestic violence victims; however, there is no consistency among agencies who intervene in domestic violence situations regarding the level of training personnel receive to ensure proper domestic violence intervention.

     The legislature further finds that a sufficient understanding of the complexity of domestic violence situations and appropriate responses is necessary for victims to receive proper attention and support and for perpetrators to be properly restrained.  Therefore, the legislature finds it is appropriate to require training on domestic violence intervention for state and county employees who act as interveners in domestic violence situations including but not limited to judges, firefighters, emergency medical services personnel, and law enforcement.

     The purpose of this Act is to require the State and the counties to provide domestic abuse intervention training to their personnel whose job duties require or may require intervention in domestic abuse situations.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 46, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§46‑    Domestic abuse intervention; personnel training requirements.  (a)  Beginning on January 1, 2018, any county agency that employs personnel whose job duties require or may require intervention in a domestic abuse situation shall provide such personnel with a minimum of       hours of training regarding domestic abuse intervention.

     (b)  For the purposes of this section:

     "Domestic abuse" shall have the same meaning as in section 586-1.

     "Personnel" includes but is not limited to law enforcement officers, firefighters, and emergency medical services personnel."

     SECTION 3.  Chapter 586, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§586‑    Domestic abuse intervention; personnel training requirements.  Beginning on January 1, 2018, any state agency that employs personnel whose job duties require or may require intervention in a domestic abuse situation shall provide such personnel with a minimum of       hours of training regarding domestic abuse intervention.

     For purposes of this section, "personnel" includes but is not limited to judges, attorneys, or representatives of the court who are involved in an action relating to domestic abuse."

     SECTION 4.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2017.

 



 

Report Title:

Domestic Violence; Training; State and County Employees

 

Description:

Requires any state or county agency to provide domestic abuse intervention training to their personnel whose job duties require or may require intervention in a domestic abuse situation.  (SD1)

 

 

 

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