STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2418

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2712

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Labor, to which was referred S.B. No. 2712 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE JUDICIARY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to finance the Judiciary's supplemental budget.

     Your Committee received testimony supporting the measure from the Judiciary.  Your Committee also received testimony in opposition to the measure from the legislative director of the Family Law Section of the Hawaii State Bar Association.

     Your Committee finds that the Judiciary's supplemental budget request is consistent with the Judiciary's mission to:

     (1)  Provide essential services to, and ensure the safety of children, other at-risk family members, and clients;

     (2)  Provide necessary treatment and evaluation services to offenders requiring the courts' assistance; and

     (3)  Ensure that Judiciary facilities are safe and secure for the public and Judiciary employees.

     Your Committee further finds the supplemental budget request for funding of approximately $7,700,000 for fiscal year 2008-2009 results in a total supplemental general fund budget of just under $152,000,000, which is more than $2,000,000 below the Judiciary's general fund appropriation ceiling.  However, your Committee finds that further budget savings are warranted and has therefore amended the measure by:

     (1)  Reducing operating funds and position counts in Program ID JUD310, JUD320, JUD330, JUD350, and JUD601;

     (2)  Reducing the "lump sum CIP for Judiciary facilities, statewide" appropriation of $2,600,000 for fiscal year 2008-2009 to $1,500,000; and

     (3)  Adjusting other total appropriation amounts accordingly.

     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 S.B. No. 2712, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2712, 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,

____________________________

BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair