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 S.B. No. 1327 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to improve the services provided to crime victims by the Crime Victim Compensation Commission.

Specifically, this measure:

Your Committee finds that the exemption from central service and administrative expense assessments will enable the Crime Victim Compensation Commission to devote additional financial resources to victim compensation awards and help the Commission achieve fiscal self-sufficiency.

Your Committee also finds that permitting the Director of Public Safety to garnish moneys received by an inmate to satisfy the victim compensation fee imposed by a court at sentencing will enhance the Commission's stream of revenue and hold offenders accountable for the consequences of their actions. These additional resources will permit the Commission to defray expenses associated with providing mental health care services for surviving family members of a deceased victim.

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 S.B. No. 1327 and recommends that it pass Third Reading.