STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1256

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 1614

       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. 1614, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DRUGS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Attorney General's Nuisance Abatement Unit.

     Your Committee finds that the Nuisance Abatement Unit consists of one deputy attorney general, one full-time investigator on Oahu, and a half-time investigator on the Big Island.  This bill would authorize the funding for an additional one and a half investigator position and a clerk position.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the bill from the Attorney General's Office and from Jeannine Johnson, a private citizen.

     Your Committee amended the bill by specifying the amount of $150,000 and indicating the one and a half position and the clerk position.  Your Committee also amended the bill to put a proviso that that hiring be delayed for three months and that the effective date be upon approval.

     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. 1614, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1614, 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