Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Intergovernmental Affairs and Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 604 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require police officers who testify pursuant to subpoena to be compensated for overtime if the officer is off-duty at that time.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Honolulu Police Department. Comments were received from the Department of Budget and Finance.

The intent of this measure is to compensate the police officer for undue hardship and disruption in personal life in the officer's off-duty hours. The State would be required to reimburse the county for half of the overtime compensation.

Your Committees find that testimony at trial is an integral part of the judicial system. County police officers conduct much of the criminal investigations and are therefore critical witnesses at trial. The overtime compensation is a drain on county budgets. This measure would alleviate some of that burden on the counties.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Intergovernmental Affairs and Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 604 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.