CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO.2-04
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2004
H.D. 1
S.D. 1
C.D. 1
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twenty-Second State Legislature
Regular Session of 2004
State of Hawaii
Honorable Robert Bunda
President of the Senate
Twenty-Second State Legislature
Regular Session of 2004
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the House of Representatives to the amendments proposed by the Senate in H.B. No. 2300, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE JUDICIARY,"
having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.
The purpose of this bill is to provide the necessary appropriations and authorizations for the operation of and capital improvements for the Judiciary for fiscal biennium 2003-2005.
Your Committee on Conference, with an appreciation of the crucial function the Judiciary performs for the state, appropriated $1,716,879 of the Judiciary’s supplemental budget requests, increasing the Judiciary’s total budget for fiscal year 2005 to $119,743,478. Of the remaining requests, the Legislature appropriated a majority through H.B. No. 2004, C.D. 1, and H.B. No. 2796, C.D.1, both of which are poised to pass. This funding will enable the Judiciary to fulfill its mission of "administering justice in an impartial, efficient, and accessible manner in accordance with the law."
H.B. No. 2004, C.D. 1, will provide 15 positions and $1,472,419 for the expansion of the drug court programs in the Second and Third Judicial Circuits. This funding will facilitate the Judiciary's efforts to accommodate the demand for the services provided by its drug court programs. In the Third Judicial Circuit, an additional 25 adults and 16 juveniles will be served, doubling client capacity. The additional personnel in both circuits will ensure that clients receive adequate attention and proper treatment. These programs are a cost-effective means of treating non-violent offenders and freeing up prison space in our overcrowded correctional facilities to provide more room for more dangerous criminals.
Your Committee on Conference approved the following additional funding:
(1) $500,000 for guardians ad litem in the First Circuit to represent children involved in child protective proceedings and legal counsel to represent indigent parties;
(2) $345,705 for increased security at First and Second Judicial Circuit facilities and at the Administrative Driver's License Revocation Office (ADLRO) to ensure the safety of judges, staff, and citizens accessing court facilities; and
(3) One social worker for the Office of the Public Guardian to meet the increasing demand for public guardianship.
The Legislature is quite concerned about child sex abuse in our communities. The statistics are startling: the number of reports of child sex assault on Oahu doubled in five years. H.B. No. 2796, will provide $200,000 in funding for the treatment of both victims of intra-familial child abuse and juvenile sex offenders under the age of 12. In the six months since its launch, the program has successfully served more than 100 on Oahu and the Big Island. Your Committee is dedicated to supporting the continued success of the program.
With regard to the Fifth Judicial Circuit, your Committee on Conference provided funding for additional equipment in fulfilling the operational requirements of the new Kauai Judiciary Complex, scheduled for completion during the last quarter of 2005. Funding for a Personnel Technician and a Data Processing Support Technician were also authorized for the Circuit. These appropriations will enhance the quality of service the Fifth Circuit provides to its community.
Your Committee on Conference, in realization of the efficiencies to be gained through the use of technology, accommodated the Judiciary's request for $300,000 for the final phase of the Human Resource Management Systems Project. It also provided funding for the update of the electronic benchbooks used by judges in adjudicating cases. This funding will increase the efficiency with which the Judiciary operates.
In addition to the resources provided for the Judiciary’s operating requirements, your Committee appropriated $41,950,000 for capital improvement projects, including construction of the Hilo Judiciary Complex, improvements for the Juvenile Detention Home Facility, and the development of a new facility to house the Children’s Justice Center.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2300, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2300, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, C.D. 1.
Respectfully submitted on behalf
of the managers:
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ON THE PART OF THE SENATE |
ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE |
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____________________________ BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Co-Chair |
____________________________ DWIGHT Y. TAKAMINE, Co-Chair |
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____________________________ COLLEEN HANABUSA, Co-Chair |
____________________________ ERIC G. HAMAKAWA, Co-Chair |
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