STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1171
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2001
RE: H.B. No. 709
H.D. 1
S.D. 1
Honorable Robert Bunda
President of the Senate
Twenty-First State Legislature
Regular Session of 2001
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 709, H.D. 1, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR COMPENSATION OF CRIME VICTIMS,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Crime Victim Compensation Special Fund (Fund) to compensate crime victims and their providers pursuant to chapter 351, Hawaii Revised Statutes.
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Crime Victim Compensation Commission (Commission) and the Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney.
Your Committee finds that the Commission provides a financial and psychological safety net for victims of violent crime. When insurance and other payment sources have been exhausted, the Commission provides compensation to Hawaii's violent crime victims.
Your Committee finds that many victims of violent crime would not be able to pay their medical bills, receive counseling, or arrange for the funeral and burial of their loved ones without the assistance offered by the Commission. Your Committee finds that the Commission performs an important public service, and should receive the funds necessary to continue that service.
Your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Deleting reference to exceeding the general fund expenditure ceiling, because the State is not yet at that point financially;
(2) Replacing the $1 appropriation amount with $450,000 for deposit into the Fund, and replacing the $1 appropriation amount by the same sum for appropriation out of the Fund, on the recommendation of the Commission; and
(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments to comport with proper drafting.
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. 709, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 709, 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,
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____________________________ BRIAN KANNO, Chair |
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