STAND. COM. REP. NO. 787

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 1484

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1484 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE GARNISHMENT OF COMMITTED PERSONS' MONEYS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to authorize the Director of Public Safety to garnish a committed person's moneys to pay court-ordered crime victim compensation fees.

     Furthermore, this measure prioritizes crime victim compensation fees as the third highest of five uses for garnished moneys.  Also, this measure expands sources of moneys subject to garnishment to include judgments and settlements.

     Your Committee received comments in support of this measure from the Crime Victim Compensation Commission.

     Your Committee finds that the Director of Public Safety currently lacks statutory authority to garnish inmate wages for deposit into the crime victim compensation special fund.  This measure will increase the revenues of the Crime Victim Compensation Commission, which will in turn enable the commission to serve more of Hawaii's violent crime victims.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1484 and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair