STAND. COM. REP. NO.  126

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

RE:   H.B. No. 446

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 446 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ADDRESS CONFIDENTIALITY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to protect the victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking by establishing the Address Confidentiality Program to maintain the secrecy of the addresses of those victims upon relocation.

The Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, Domestic Violence Action Center, Sex Abuse Treatment Center, American Association of University Women – Hawaii, Hawaii State Democratic Women's Caucus, PHOCUSED, Hawaii Women's Coalition, and numerous concerned individuals testified in support of this measure.  The Department of Human Services supported the intent of this bill.  The Department of Budget and Finance and Crime Victim Compensation Commission provided comments.

     Your Committee notes that this measure contemplates that a director will run the Address Confidentiality Program.  However, no criteria or process is provided for the selection of the director.  Your Committee respectfully requests that the Committee on Judiciary review this issue should they decide to consider this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Including convictions for sexual offenses to those subject to the surcharge established by this measure;

     (2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     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. 446, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 446, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

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

____________________________

DEE MORIKAWA, Chair