Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 2427 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of the bill is to extend the statute of limitations for civil suits by victims of criminal offenses.

Your Committee received testimony in support of the measure from the Department of the Attorney General, the Department of Public Safety, the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney for the City and County of Honolulu. The Judiciary testified in support of the intent of the bill. Testimony in opposition was provided by the Office of the Public Defender.

Your Committee finds that sentenced defendants under court jurisdiction are rarely able to pay for civil judgments against them for torts arising out of their crimes. Also, the statute of limitations for suits against these defendants often expire during this time.

Your Committee finds that this measure will extend the statute of limitations for suits against defendants into a period of time when they are more likely to be able to satisfy judgments against them.

Your Committee amended the bill by:

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. 2427, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2427, H.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.