Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 2897, H.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to change the sunrise date of Act 202, Session Laws of Hawaii 2004, relating to appellate jurisdiction, which makes numerous changes concerning appellate courts, from July 1, 2006 to July 1, 2096.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Attorney General, the Office of the Public Defender, and one individual. The Judiciary submitted testimony in opposition to this measure. The Hawaii State Bar Association submitted comments.

Your Committee finds that changes need to be made to the appellate court system but recognizes the concerns about the timing of these changes. Your Committee notes that the Hawaii State Bar Association held a meeting in regard to this measure, and while divided on the issue of the changes to the appellate court system, the Hawaii State Bar Association agreed to support postponement of the sunrise date of Act 202 to July 1, 2007.

Your Committee has amended this measure to change the sunrise date of Act 202, Session Laws of Hawaii 2004, from July 1, 2096 to January 1, 2007.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2897, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2897, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.