STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1522

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 1999

                                   RE:  H.B. No. 1450
                                        H.D. 1
                                        S.D. 2




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:


     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B.
No. 1450, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE JUDICIARY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to appropriate operating and
capital funds to the Judiciary for the 1999-2001 fiscal biennium.

     The Judiciary has undertaken programs to improve efficiency
in the courts while continuing to maintain timely and quality
services to Hawaii's citizens.  Your Committee wishes to
acknowledge the Judiciary's efforts in this area and to thank the
Judiciary for its assistance and cooperation in identifying areas
for cost containment and revenue enhancement.

     Even during these difficult economic times, however, certain
pressing needs within the Judiciary must be addressed.  Your
Committee has provided for these areas and would like to
highlight three of these areas:


 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1522
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FAMILY COURTS

     Our community's concerns about child abuse, neglect, and
paternity have prompted your Committee to support the
establishment of two new judgeships:  an additional District
Family Court judge for the Third Circuit in Hilo, and an
additional Family Court judge for the First Circuit.

HAWAII DRUG COURT PROGRAM

     Your Committee has also supported the conversion of the Drug
Court into a permanent program by converting fourteen positions
from temporary to permanent status.  Since the program was
established in January, 1996, the program has proved to be a
cost-effective alternative for diverting drug offenders.  The
Judiciary estimates that the Drug Court saves between $678,000
and $854,000 a year while attaining a client recidivism rate of
six per cent as compared to other criminal justice programs where
recidivism ranges between forty and sixty per cent.

CIRCUIT COURTS

     A new judge is approved for the Fifth Circuit of the Circuit
Court to handle circuit and family matters.  There is currently
only one Circuit Court judge assigned to preside over the islands
of Kauai and Niihau who serves as the Circuit Court
Administrative Judge, the Arbitration Judge, and the Senior
Family Judge.

     Your Committee has amended the bill by:

     (1)  Changing the amounts appropriated for operating
          purposes in fiscal year 1999 for JUD111 and JUD201;

     (2)  Adding a new capital improvement project item #9 for
          the Legal Aid Society of Hawaii;

     (3)  Increasing the grant-in-aid to the Legal Aid Society of
          Hawaii to $1,052,400;

     (4)  Increasing the amount appropriated or authorized in
          part II for capital improvement projects to $18,880,000
          and increasing the bond authorization ceiling
          accordingly; and

     (5)  Making technical changes that have no substantive
          effect.

 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1522
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     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your
Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. 1450,
H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass
Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. 1450, H.D. 1,
S.D. 2.

                                 Respectfully submitted on behalf
                                 of the members of the Committee
                                 on Ways and Means,



                                 ________________________________
                                 CAROL FUKUNAGA, Co-Chair



                                 ________________________________
                                 ANDREW LEVIN, Co-Chair

 
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