STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1656

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 1999

                                   RE:  S.C.R. No. 94
                                        




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

Sir:

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.C.R.
No. 94 entitled:

     "SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING A REVIEW OF THE
     HAWAII RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE RELATED TO OFFERS OF
     JUDGMENT AND ALLOWING DISCOVERY AND TESTIMONY BY VIDEOTAPE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this resolution is to request that the
Judiciary examine possible changes to rules of civil procedure.
Specifically, this resolution requests that the Judiciary
consider changes to Rule 68, Hawaii Rules of Civil Procedure,
dealing with offers of judgment, and consider adopting a new rule
allowing discovery and trial testimony by videotape.

     Your Committee finds that these potential changes, which are
in part being examined by the Judiciary already, will potentially
improve the quality and efficiency of Hawaii's court system.
Your Committee believes it is worthwhile to encourage the
Judiciary in its consideration of changes to its rules.

     Testimony in support of this resolution was submitted by the
Consumer Lawyers of Hawaii.  Testimony commenting on this
resolution was submitted by the Judiciary.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your
Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 94,
and recommends its adoption.

 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1656
                                   Page 2



                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Judiciary,



                                   ______________________________
                                   AVERY B. CHUMBLEY, Co-Chair



                                   ______________________________
                                   MATTHEW M. MATSUNAGA, Co-Chair

 
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