Panel OKs pilot project
for partner-abused teensMinors presently cannot be admitted to shelters
By Pat Omandam
for people who've been domestically abused
Star-BulletinTeen-age girls in violent relationships can immediately turn to domestic-violence shelters for safety, under a proposal in the state Legislature. Currently, minors in abusive relationships are in a dilemma -- they cannot legally be admitted into such shelters unless accompanied by an adult, and staff at youth shelters are not trained to deal with domestic-violence issues.
The situation has community groups this session pushing legislation for a pilot program to allow domestic-violence shelters to take in abused female teen-agers.
While a House measure stalled, the Senate version survived but was amended to instead call for specialized foster homes for minors suffering from abusive relationships.
The groups yesterday successfully persuaded the House Human Services Committee to restore the language in Senate Bill 2744, SD 2, to its original form.
The Senate bill, as it now stands, calls for a pilot program to allow domestic violence shelters to admit abused female teens for a 48-hour period -- giving them an emergency place to stay -- and to receive counseling and referrals.
The measure now moves to the House Finance Committee.
Ina J. Percival, executive director of the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, told lawmakers 30 percent of all homicides in the state are caused by domestic violence, with most murders occurring within the first 48 hours of a violent incident.
Percival said more and more adolescent girls are becoming victims of partner abuse, and there needs to be services that can quickly address their safety. Parents, she added, tend to view youth shelters as a place for delinquent or problem youth.
"There are an increasing number of reports to many agencies and staff who work with parents, young people, and domestic violence services -- including HCSW -- that parents and young women are desperate for emergency shelter. ... Please, let us not wait until we have a dead teen victim of partner abuse in our headlines before we are willing to undertake this proactive and prudent measure."
Still, the state Department of Human Services opposed the measure because it already has plans to train youth shelter staff in the dynamics and legal implications of domestic violence as well as other types of violence that plagues youth, said director Susan Chandler.
Chandler said the department has worked closely with agencies and committees that deal with youth, such as the Hawaii Youth Services Network, and believes the measure is unnecessary. The groups will meet on April 1 to discuss the training, she said.
Chandler said seven of the eight Oahu domestic-violence shelters -- all of which receive state funding -- opposed admitting teenagers. Besides, it would be costly for them to upgrade their facilities to be licensed for child care as well, she said.
"We believe the most appropriate place for them are youth shelters," she told the committee.
House rejects pay-cut bill,
By Craig Gima
offers instead day furloughs
Star-BulletinThe House Labor Committee is telling the Senate that the state budget should not be balanced by cutting the pay of all state employees. The committee yesterday voted to gut Senate Bill 2222, which called for an across-the-board pay cut for state workers, and replace its language with a proposal to allow state workers to voluntarily take one day a month off without pay.
"S.B. 2222 is not part of the House's budget plan," said Committee Chairman Nobu Yonamine (D, Pearl City).
Gov. Ben Cayetano said he doesn't like either the House's voluntary furlough plan or the Senate's pay cut proposal.
"I think it's time that we just come to grips with the fact that we need to do some restructuring," Cayetano said.
"The financial plan that I sent to the Legislature is one that is reasonable, I believe, and does not require some of the drastic action that would be required if, for example, the financial plan being discussed by the Senate is adopted."
Yonamine said the voluntary furlough is an option that the House can use in its negotiations with the Senate when the budget goes to a conference committee.
At a hearing on the proposal yesterday, Michael Broderick, the administrative director of the courts, said if all Judiciary employees took the furlough, the state would save $2.6 million a year.
But Broderick said it is impossible to estimate how many employees would voluntarily take the day off.
Neal Miyahira, deputy director of the Department of Budget and Finance, said a voluntary furlough is a "stop-gap alternative" that would be difficult to administer.
He suggested certain positions like teachers and correctional officers should not be subject to it.
Rep. Roy Takumi (D, Pearl City) suggested the voluntary furlough plan could be expanded.
"Some workers, because of a family situation, might be willing to take off one day a week," he said.
LEGISLATURE UPDATE
A calendar of tomorrow's hearings -- to be held at the state Capitol, 415 S. Beretania St., unless noted:
HOUSE
Labor and Public Employment: Hearing on proposed draft of a bill relating to employment, which disallows compensation for physical or mental injury resulting from a disciplinary or other personnel action taken in good faith by the employer. Decision-making to follow, 8:45 a.m., Room 309.
SENATE
