Report Title:

Witness Fees; Criminal cases

Description:

Increases witnesses fees in criminal cases.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	187
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO Fees in criminal cases.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1.  Section 621-7, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

"(a)  Every witness legally required to attend a state court or grand jury in any criminal case, other than a public officer or employee, shall be entitled to [$20] $55 for each day's attendance and a reasonable mileage fee to be established pursuant to rules adopted by the judiciary for each mile actually and necessarily traveled on the ground each way, including travel to and from the nearest airport when required to travel from another island or from outside the State.

In addition to witness' fees, every witness[,] who attends a state court from outside the State shall be entitled to the actual round-trip cost of plane travel, plus [$110 per twenty-four-hour day, or if] $160 for each day's attendance.  Every witness who attends from any island other than that on which the court holds session[,] shall be entitled to the actual round-trip cost of plane travel, plus $55 [per twenty-four-hour day, which] for each day's attendance.  When a witness from any island other than that on which the court holds session incurs necessary lodging expenses, the witness shall be entitled to the actual round-trip cost of plane travel, plus $160 for each day's attendance.  These amounts shall cover all personal expenses, such as board and lodging.  [These per diem payments shall be computed on the basis of quarter day periods of time.]"

SECTION 2.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.   

SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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