STAND. COM. REP. NO.1336-02
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2002
RE: H.C.R. No. 171
H.D. 1
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.C.R. No. 171 entitled:
"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE CREATION OF A TASK FORCE TO RESOLVE ISSUES RELATED TO COURT-APPOINTED COUNSEL IN HAWAII,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to request that the Chief Justice of the Hawaii Supreme Court convene a task force to review concerns related to problems with recruitment of and untimely payments to court-appointed counsel.
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of the Public Defender. The Judiciary provided testimony in support of the intent of this measure.
Your Committee finds that indigent litigants' access to adequate representation in court proceedings depends on the availability of capable attorneys who are willing to serve as court-appointed counsel.
Your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Requesting that the Office of the Public Defender convene the task force, rather than the Chief Justice;
(2) Deleting the Prosecuting Attorney's Office from the list of organizations requested to be included on the task force;
(3) Removing the recruitment issue; and
(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive changes for clarity and style.
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 concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 171, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 171, H.D. 1.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs,
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____________________________ ERIC G. HAMAKAWA, Chair |
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