Hawaii-2018-SB2354-Amended

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2354
TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2018		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE.

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that intimate partner violence is prevalent in every community and affects people regardless of age, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, gender, race, religion, or nationality. Intimate partner violence can result in long-lasting consequences, including physical injury, psychological trauma, or even death. According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one in three women and more than one in four men in the United States have experienced rape, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime.

The legislature further finds that professionals in the grooming and beauty industry, such as barbers, hairdressers, estheticians, and nail technicians, often enjoy close relationships with their clients. These relationships may last years or decades and can put a grooming or beauty professional in the unique position to identify a potentially concerning situation.

The legislature additionally finds that requiring individual licensees under the board of barbering and cosmetology to complete intimate partner violence awareness and education training may help decrease intimate partner violence by making more individuals aware of the problem and offering victims an additional place to turn for help.

Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to require barber, beauty operator, and instructor licensees under the board of barbering and cosmetology to complete a one-time, one-hour training program on intimate partner violence awareness and education.

SECTION 2. Chapter 438, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§438- Intimate partner violence; awareness and education; hold harmless. (a) All persons licensed as a barber pursuant to this chapter shall complete a one-time, one-hour training program on intimate partner violence awareness and education. The awareness and education training program shall enable barber licensees to recognize signs of intimate partner violence and provide licensees with resources to address intimate partner violence, such as referrals to appropriate social services or domestic violence organizations.

(b) All persons applying for licensure as a barber pursuant to this chapter shall complete the training program and submit evidence of completion along with the application requirements under section 438-7.

(c) All persons holding a valid barber license pursuant to this chapter as of the effective date of this Act shall complete the training program and submit evidence of completion along with license renewal requirements specified under section 438‑12.

(d) The department shall develop the intimate partner violence awareness and education training program required by this section and section 439- in coordination with a domestic violence intervention program.

(e) A person licensed as a barber pursuant to this chapter who completes the training program shall not be civilly or criminally liable for acting in good faith or failing to act on information concerning potential intimate partner violence obtained during the course of employment."

SECTION 3. Chapter 439, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§439- Intimate partner violence; awareness and education; hold harmless. (a) All persons licensed as a beauty operator or instructor pursuant to this chapter shall complete a one-time, one-hour training program on intimate partner violence awareness and education. The awareness and education training program shall enable beauty operator or instructor licensees to recognize signs of intimate partner violence and provide licensees with resources to address intimate partner violence, such as referrals to appropriate social services or domestic violence organizations.

(b) All persons applying for licensure as a beauty operator or instructor pursuant to this chapter shall complete the training program and submit evidence of completion along with the application requirements under section 439-11.

(c) All persons holding a valid beauty operator or instructor license pursuant to this chapter as of the effective date of this Act shall complete the training program and submit evidence of completion along with license renewal requirements specified under section 439-15.

(d) A person licensed as a beauty operator or instructor pursuant to this chapter who completes the training program shall not be civilly or criminally liable for acting in good faith or failing to act on information concerning potential intimate partner violence obtained during the course of employment."

SECTION 4. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2018.