Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 278, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to increase restitution available to victims of crime.

Specifically, this measure increases the amount of the crime victim compensation fee payable by a convicted defendant to a victim. It also prioritizes court ordered payments to be made by a defendant, providing that restitution payments are the first priority.

Your Committee finds that offender restitution payments mitigate the suffering and financial impact experienced by crime victims. Restitution payments assist victims in making payments on medical bills and receiving mental health or rehabilitative services. Although compensation for crime related expenditures is available only to victims of specified violent crimes, offender restitution is available to crime victims whenever the offender is convicted. The increase in the amount of the crime victim compensation fee to be paid by an offender will increase the funding that is available as restitution to victims. Your Committee believes that a crime victim should not continue to be victimized after an offender is convicted and that restitution is an integral part of a victim's rehabilitation.

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. 278, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.