Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 2223 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for the State's Commission to Promote Uniform Laws, and to pay the State's dues to National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws.

Your Committee heard testimony in support of the measure from the Commission to Promote Uniform Laws.

Your Committee finds that work of the Commission to Promote Uniform Laws has produced numerous valuable measures for consideration during this legislative session and continues to be vital to the legislative process of the State of Hawaii. Commissioners devote such time as is necessary for drafting, processing, and enacting bills as volunteers without compensation. Like the members of most other state boards and commissions, the commissioners' basic expenses directly related to their work, such as air fare, per diem allowances, and membership dues should be covered by the State. This is especially important as regards conference participation by the members of the commission because they may then have the benefit of participation in the debate, discussion, and explanation of the uniform acts. This provides background and information that commissioners can then bring back to the State of Hawaii when a uniform proposal is considered by the legislature.

Further, each state, including Hawaii, pays dues to the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws and the amount requested is also used for this purpose.

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 S.B. No. 2223 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.