Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 705 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to exempt the Crime Victim Compensation Commission (Commission) from paying fees on central service and administrative expenses incurred for the operation of the Crime Victim Compensation Special Fund.

Supportive testimony was submitted by the Commission, and the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu.

Your Committee finds that the Commission paid over $45,000 in assessments for fiscal year 2000-2001, and will need to pay an estimated $60,000 for fiscal year 2001-2002.

Funds for these assessments are not included in the Commission's operating budget. As such, the Commission has not been able to fill two of six positions in order to reserve funds for the payment of the assessments. This situation has created a staffing shortage within the Commission that has severely impacted the State's ability to adequately serve Hawaii's victims of violent crime.

In light of this, your Committee believes this bill will promote the public good by ensuring that the Commission will have sufficient resources to carry out its responsibilities.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 705 and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance.