STAND. COM. REP. NO.  15

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

RE:   H.B. No. 538

      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. 538 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to help persons who are victimized by domestic violence by requiring telecommunication service providers to release an individual from a shared or family wireless plan and arrange for alternate service without any charges or fees if the individual submits a written request and documentation of instances of domestic violence.

The Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women; the Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence; the American Association of University Women of Hawaii; the Domestic Violence Action Center; the Hawaii Women's Coalition; PHOCUSED; and several individuals submitted testimony in support of the measure. The Community Alliance on Prisons submitted testimony providing comments.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by making the effective date July 1, 2050, to promote further discussion.

     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. 538, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 538, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

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

____________________________

DEE MORIKAWA, Chair