HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2300
TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2010
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTERS.

 

 

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

 

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the State needs to continue to fund domestic violence shelters in order to provide safe havens for women and their children made homeless due to domestic violence.  The rate of domestic violence continues to increase, becoming one of the most significant social problems facing the State of Hawaii.  According to the statistics provided by the Domestic Violence Clearing House and Legal Hotline, the Honolulu Police Department, the Sex Abuse Treatment Center, and the Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, in a population of approximately one million people there is one death per month due to domestic violence.  Statewide, shelters serve approximately 1,000 adults and 1,100 children per year. 

     Statewide, the shelters are experiencing financial difficulties.  Additionally, shelters are finding it more and more difficult to provide a high standard of service that will assist the consumer’s move towards stabilization.  In this regard, shelters find that individual consumer needs have increased dramatically since 2004.  Families and individuals currently entering shelter placement are affected by an inclusive menu of issues, including substance use and addiction, mental health, child abuse and neglect, homelessness, loss of income, lack of employable skills, lack of parenting skills, and lack of medical and dental care.  The needs of the consumer have impacted service delivery.  Domestic violence advocates must be thoroughly trained to meet the varying needs of the consumer base so that the consumer may move from shelter placement to a non-abusive living environment.  In order for this to be accomplished, additional moneys must be allocated to meet the varying needs. 

     The legislature finds that without additional funding, statewide domestic violence shelters cannot meet the needs of the community.

     The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds for domestic violence shelters.

     SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2010-2011 to support domestic violence shelters statewide.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2010.

 

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

 

 

Report Title:

Domestic Violence Shelters; Appropriation

 

Description:

Appropriates general funds for domestic violence shelters.

 

 

 

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