STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1104

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 1493

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Labor, to which was referred H.B. No. 1493, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE CRIME VICTIM COMPENSATION COMMISSION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

      The purpose of this measure is to exempt existing and new employees of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Commission from civil service laws as established in Chapter 76 and to provide the new staff members the right to bargain collectively as established in Chapter 89.

     Your Committee finds that this bill does not affect present Commission employees. The duties and responsibilities of the Commission are unique because of their dealings with crime victims.  This bill will recognize the unique duties and responsibilities.  Commission does not receive any general funds and is funded through special funds and a matching federal grant from the Victims of Crime Act Fund.  In 1998, the Legislature established a crime victim compensation fee to provide a funding base for the Commission to become fiscally self sufficient.  This bill will ensure that the Commission is adequately staffed.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the bill from the Crime Victim Compensation Commission and did not receive any opposition to the bill.

     Your Committee amended the bill by making it effective upon approval instead of July 1, 2112.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Labor that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1493, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1493, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary and Labor,

____________________________

CLAYTON HEE, Chair