CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 129

Honolulu, Hawaii

                 , 2011

RE:    H.B. No. 300

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 2

       C.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sirs:

     Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the House of Representatives to the amendments proposed by the Senate in H.B. No. 300, H.D. 2, S.D. 2, entitled:

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

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

     The purpose of this bill is to appropriate funds for the operating budget and capital improvement project budget of the Judiciary for the 2011-2013 fiscal biennium.

Operating

     Your Committee on Conference has carefully considered the Judiciary’s budget request and sought to provide general funds to further the Judiciary’s mission of administering justice in an impartial, efficient, and accessible manner.

     Furlough days that were instituted because of the continued economic downturn have severely hampered the Judiciary's mission and resulted in an increase in workload over the past year, thereby decreasing service delivery and resulting in the elimination of some programs.

    Your Committee on Conference finds that collective bargaining agreements for the upcoming biennium will eliminate the furlough of Judiciary employees.  The agreement is expected to provide the state with approximately $4,100,000 in general fund savings.  This amount is reflected as a lump sum reduction to be allocated to programs by the Judiciary in accordance with accrued labor savings.  Further, your Committee on Conference recommends that the Judiciary reduce spending by $2,000,000 in general funds as its part of a statewide effort to balance the state's overall budget.

Capital Improvement Projects

     Your Committee on Conference recommends total appropriations of $31,424,000 in general obligation bond funding for capital improvement projects.  Among other things, your Committee on Conference recommends:

     (1)  $12,000,000 for land acquisition and design for a new judiciary complex in Kona, Hawaii;

     (2)  $10,000,000 for general alterations, upgrades, and improvement to judiciary facilities statewide; and

     (3)  $4,645,000 for plans, design, and construction for roof and lanai upgrades and improvements at Kaahumanu Hale, Oahu.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 300, H.D. 2, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 300, H.D. 2, S.D. 2, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

____________________________ CLAYTON HEE, Chair	____________________________ GILBERT KEITH-AGARAN, Co-Chair
____________________________ DAVID Y. IGE, Co-Chair	____________________________ MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Co-Chair