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. 101 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to help protect and revitalize Hawaii's communities by appropriating $600,000 for the Weed and Seed Strategy.

The Department of Public Safety, Honolulu Police Department, the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney for the County of Hawaii, and a concerned individual testified in support of this bill. The Department of the Attorney General (AG) supported the intent of this measure and suggested amendments. The Housing and Community Development Corporation of Hawaii supported the intent of this bill.

Your Committee finds that the Weed and Seed Strategy is effective in reducing crime and merits further funding. Additionally, the AG has suggested that, in order to ensure efficient coordination of program efforts, funding under this measure should be made as a grant to the YMCA of Honolulu, with the AG serving as the expending agency. The AG has also requested clarification as to whether the funds appropriated may be used to maintain and expand the Weed and Seed Strategy.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this bill by:

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. 101, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 101, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.