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. 2821 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to allow for the award of medical expenses in excess of $10,000 to compensate crime victims.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Crime Victim Compensation Commission, Maui County Prosecuting Attorney, Honolulu County Prosecuting Attorney, Kauai County Prosecuting Attorney, and the Sex Abuse Treatment Center.

Your Committee finds that, at present, the maximum $10,000 award is woefully inadequate in addressing cases involving catastrophic medical care. Hawaii is one of eight states that has a $10,000 maximum award while more than forty other states have higher limits ranging from $15,000 to a high of $150,000 in Washington State, and no limit in New York.

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. 2821 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.