STAND. COM. REP. NO.  384

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   H.B. No. 326

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 326 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CHILDREN,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to ensure the safety and well-being of our children by creating a two-year statewide task force to review, assess, and make recommendations on the State's system responses to cases of child sexual assault and exploitation.

     The Honolulu Police Department, Catholic Charities Hawaii, Child and Family Service, Hawaii Family Forum, and Roman Catholic Church in the State of Hawaii testified in support of this bill.  The Children's Justice Center of the Judiciary and Department of Human Services supported the intent of this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by making technical and nonsubstantive changes for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 326, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 326, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,

____________________________

TOMMY WATERS, Chair