Hawaii House Bill HCR104

Hawaii 2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/7/24
• Refer: 3/13/24

Caption

Requesting The Department Of The Attorney General To Conduct A Study Evaluating The Feasibility Of Creating A Domestic Violence Registry That Would Be Used Similarly To The Sex Offender Registry.

Impact

The proposed establishment of a domestic violence registry would significantly impact state laws related to the treatment of domestic violence offenders. By aligning domestic violence offenders with the treatment similar to that of sexual offenders, the initiative seeks to enhance transparency and provide law enforcement and the public with critical information. Additionally, the study would address comprehensively how such a registry could practically be implemented within the existing legal framework while evaluating associated costs and enforcement challenges.

Summary

HCR104 is a House Concurrent Resolution from the State of Hawaii, introduced in the Thirty-second Legislature of 2024. This resolution requests the Department of the Attorney General to conduct a comprehensive study evaluating the feasibility of creating a domestic violence registry. Such a registry would operate similarly to the existing sex offender registry in Hawaii and aim to improve public safety and community awareness regarding domestic violence offenders. The resolution highlights various state and national precedents for such registries, emphasizing the need for increased vigilance and safety measures for communities.

Contention

Possible areas of contention surrounding HCR104 include concerns about legal and constitutional barriers to implementing a domestic violence registry, as well as potential implications for privacy and civil liberties. The resolution calls for an assessment of these legal obstacles, which may emerge during discussions on the registry's feasibility. As such initiatives often provoke debate regarding state control versus individual rights, stakeholders and lawmakers may express differing views on the balance of public safety against personal privacy rights.