Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 499 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to exempt interpreters retained by the court, from prosecution, penalty, or fine for any parking meter violation incurred in connection with their appearance in court.

The Judiciary testified in support of the measure.

Your Committee finds that interpreters serve a valuable role for the court and are classified as expert witnesses under Rule 60-4 of the Hawaii Rule of Evidence, yet do not receive the same courtesies as other witnesses do. This measure grants interpreters who appear at the court's behest with the same exemptions from parking meter fines that subpoenaed witnesses receive.

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 H.B. No. 499 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.