STAND. COM. REP. NO.  432

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   H.B. No. 969

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 969 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE WEED AND SEED STRATEGY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to prevent, control, and reduce violent crime, drug abuse, and gang activity in local communities by appropriating funds to expand the Weed and Seed Program (Program) to the Kalihi, Waipahu, and Ewa Beach areas of Oahu.

     The Honolulu Police Department, Gentry Homes, Ltd., Parents and Children Together (PACT), and numerous concerned individuals testified in support of this bill.  A concerned individual supported this measure with amendments.  The Department of the Attorney General (AG) supported the intent of this bill.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Clarifying that the intent of the bill is to maintain the operations of the Program at sites on Oahu that encompass Ala Moana, downtown Honolulu, Kalihi, Waipahu, and Ewa Beach, with the vision of expanding it to other communities in the future;

     (2)  Establishing a permanent Program within the AG's office and requiring annual reports to be submitted to the Legislature and the Governor;

     (3)  Appropriating funds for a grant-in-aid to PACT, rather than the YWCA of Honolulu, to be expended by the AG through a contract with PACT;

     (4)  Changing the effective date to January 30, 2112, to encourage further discussion; and

     (5)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 969, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 969, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

TOMMY WATERS, Chair