STAND. COM. REP. NO.  205-12

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2012

RE:   H.B. No. 2351

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 2351 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for a grant-in-aid to the judiciary for the hiring of two judges and necessary staff in the Family Court of the First Judicial Circuit to conduct jury trials for misdemeanor domestic violence-related cases.

The Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu, and a concerned individual supported the measure.  The Judiciary offered comments on the measure.

     The Judiciary noted that during the 2007 Regular Session, the Legislature provided it with two District Family Court judge positions and six support staff positions.  However, no funding was released and the Judiciary, having to prioritize its needs in the budget deficit situation, has not pressed the matter.  There does remain a need for these permanent positions, in addition to the Judiciary's current budget requests, especially if not tied to a specific calendar to allow flexibility to meet changing conditions in the future.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Removing language designating the appropriation as a grant-in-aid;

     (2)  Appropriating an unspecified amount of general revenue funds to fund two judge and six support staff positions in the Family Court of the First Judicial Circuit with responsibilities not limited to domestic violence cases; and

     (3)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, and adding a repeal date of July 1, 2014, both to promote further discussion.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2351, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2351, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services,

____________________________

JOHN M. MIZUNO, Chair