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THE SENATE |
S.C.R. NO. |
5 |
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TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2016 |
S.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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SENATE CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION
REQUESTING THE CONVENING OF AN EARLY CHILDHOOD SEXUAL ABUSE WORKING GROUP TO ADDRESS AND REDUCE CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE IN HAWAII.
WHEREAS, while child sexual abuse statistics vary, most research studies show between seventeen and twenty-five percent of girls and between seven and sixteen percent of boys will experience sexual abuse before the age of eighteen; and
WHEREAS, the emotional and physical pain suffered in childhood often results in depression, drug addiction, suicide, teenage pregnancy, and juvenile delinquency; and
WHEREAS, child sexual abuse crosses the boundaries of every economic level and ethnic and religious group; and
WHEREAS, an early childhood sexual abuse working group should be convened to identify the means of addressing early childhood sexual abuse and create strategies for reducing child sexual abuse in Hawaii; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-eighth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2016, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Department of Human Services is requested to convene an early childhood sexual abuse working group to identify the means of addressing early childhood sexual abuse and create strategies for reducing child sexual abuse in Hawaii; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the early childhood sexual abuse working group be composed of the following members: Chair of the Senate Committee on Human Services; Chair of the House Committee on Human Services; Director of Health or the Director's designee; Director of Human Services, or the Director's designee; Superintendent of Education, or the Superintendent's designee; a representative from the Early Intervention Section of the Department of Health; a representative from Prevent Child Abuse Hawaii; representatives of direct service providers; representatives from the preschool community; representatives of health care providers, including pediatricians; and representatives from additional state agencies; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in devising strategies to reduce child sexual abuse, it is requested that the working group:
(1) Gather information concerning child sexual abuse throughout the State;
(2) Hold public meetings to receive or discuss reports and testimony from individuals, state and local agencies, community-based organizations, and other public and private organizations; and
(3) Create goals for a state policy that would prevent early childhood sexual abuse and improve detection, identification, and response to early childhood sexual abuse; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the early childhood sexual abuse working group is requested to report its findings and recommendations to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2017; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chair of the Senate Committee on Human Services, Chair of the House Committee on Human Services, Director of Health, Director of Human Services, Superintendent of Education, and Prevent Child Abuse Hawaii.
Early Childhood Sexual Abuse Working Group