Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 2296, H.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to authorize the use of debit cards in securing bail bonds with the courts.

Additionally, this measure allows the Judiciary to impose a convenience fee on credit and debit card payments to the courts so that the user of the credit or debit card will bear the cost of the service fee imposed on the Judiciary by the company providing the credit or debit card services.

Your Committee finds that, without the imposition of the convenience fee, the net amount received by the Judiciary from individuals who pay court costs, fees, fines, expenses, or other charges using the convenience of a credit or debit card is less than the amount received from individuals who pay the same amount by check or cash because the payment of service fees must be deducted from credit or debit card payments. This measure allows the Judiciary to receive the total amount of the court costs, fees, fines, expenses or other charges, whether the amount owed to the court is paid by cash, check, credit or debit card.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2296, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.