STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2962

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 2000

                                   RE:  H.B. No. 2650
                                        H.D. 1
                                        S.D. 1




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No.
2650, H.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 provide supplemental
appropriations and authorizations for the operation of and
capital improvements for the Judiciary by amending Act 156,
Session Laws of Hawaii 1999, for the 1999-2001 fiscal biennium.

     Your Committee finds that the Judiciary supplemental budget
is limited in focus and addresses only the most pressing of
needs.  Your Committee further finds that these requested
additional resources are necessary for technological
enhancements, essential court services, and a very limited number
of positions.  The requests are consistent with the Judiciary's
mission and respond to public demands to ensure the safety of
children and other at-risk family members by providing adequate
resources for courtroom staff and support services.

     Your Committee would like to highlight two areas of funding
for the Judiciary:

     (1)  The Maui Drug Court Program; and

     (2)  Domestic Violence Support Services.


 
a                                                     
                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2962
                                   Page 2


THE MAUI DRUG COURT PROGRAM

     The Drug Court Program was first implemented on Oahu in
1995.  Since then, it has proven to be a very effective and cost-
efficient alternative to incarceration for nonviolent drug
offenders.

     To address a growing drug abuse problem on Maui, your
Committee supports the Judiciary's efforts to expand the program
to that island.  Funds have been provided to match the $90,000 in
federal funds earmarked for the program.  Additional funds have
been provided for a social worker, and $125,000 has been set
aside for substance abuse treatment services.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SUPPORT SERVICES

     Domestic violence is one of the most serious problems
affecting our community.  Your Committee finds that we must focus
on providing victims and family members the support and
intervention services necessary to break this cycle of violence.
Domestic violence advocates have espoused the need for a
dedicated domestic violence court.

     Your Committee believes that a dedicated domestic violence
court may not be feasible at this time, but agrees that
additional court services to support the increasing number of
cases of domestic violence is fundamental to ensuring that
domestic violence intervention remains one of our highest
priorities.

     Therefore, $222,690 has been appropriated for fiscal year
2000-2001 for the creation of six new positions to support
existing family court judges handling domestic violence cases.
An additional $250,000 has been appropriated for fiscal year
2000-2001 for purchase of services related to domestic violence
intervention.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the
Judiciary, the Community Alliance on Prisons, and Na Kahu Malama
Keiki.

     Upon further consideration, your Committee has amended this
measure by deleting its substance and inserting the contents of
S.B. 2688.  More specifically, your Committee has amended this
measure by:

     (1)  Providing an additional $50,000 for fiscal year 2000-
          2001 to the circuit court to be expended for the
          Voluntary Alternatives to Incarceration Program;

 
a                                                     
                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2962
                                   Page 3



     (2)  Providing an additional $222,690 for fiscal year 2000-
          2001 to the family court to be expended for the
          creation of six new positions to assist with domestic
          violence cases;

     (3)  Providing an additional $250,000 for fiscal year 2000-
          2001 to the family court to be expended for purchase of
          services related to domestic violence intervention;

     (4)  Providing an additional $58,808 for fiscal year 2000-
          2001 to the district court to be expended for judicial
          efficiency;

     (5)  Adding the designing and construction of the Maui Youth
          and Family Services Campus Support Building to the list
          of capital improvement projects; and

     (6)  Making technical, non-substantive changes for the
          purposes of clarity and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your
Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No.
2650, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass
Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2650, H.D.
1, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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



                                   ______________________________
                                   AVERY B. CHUMBLEY, Co-Chair



                                   ______________________________
                                   MATTHEW M. MATSUNAGA, Co-Chair

 
a