STAND. COM. REP. NO.762
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2001
RE: S.B. No. 453
S.D. 2
Honorable Robert Bunda
President of the Senate
Twenty-First State Legislature
Regular Session of 2001
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 453, S.D. 1, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE RIGHTS OF VICTIMS,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this bill is to clarify when a crime victim is required to be notified of activities or developments regarding the criminal case or the defendant.
Specifically, this bill amends the bill of rights for crime victims by amending the definition of "major developments" to include unfitness to stand trial, transfer to the state hospital or other psychiatric facility, or regaining fitness to proceed. The bill also allows a crime victim or a surviving relative to decide not to receive the required notifications.
Your Committee finds that this bill closes a gap that has existed under previous law and ensures the availability of information that may be vitally important to victims or a surviving relative.
Your Committee has amended this bill by:
(1) Requiring that the waiver of any right under section 801D-4, Hawaii Revised Statutes, by a crime victim or a surviving relative be made in writing;
(2) Correcting a cross reference, at lines 8-9 on page 4, to a repealed section of the Hawaii Revised Statutes; and
(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of style, clarity, and consistency.
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 S.B. No. 453, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 453, S.D. 2.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,
|
____________________________ BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair |
||