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. 2527 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to allow a court to deny bail or discontinue bail after a conviction for abuse of family or household member pending appeal by the defendant.

Testimony in support of this measure was received from the Domestic Violence Clearinghouse and Legal Hotline and Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Testimony in opposition was received from the Public Defender and two private individuals.

Your Committee views this measure as an added protection for victims of domestic violence. A defendant who has been convicted of domestic violence could be seeking revenge against the victim while the appeal is pending. A court should have the discretion to deny bail or to revoke bail pending the appeal.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing "discontinue" to "revoke" in reference to bail, which is the accurate terminology.

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. 2527, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2527, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.