STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2111

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2970

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Public Safety, Government Operations, and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2970 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING A GRANT-IN-AID FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF THE PROSECUTING ATTORNEY OF THE COUNTY OF MAUI,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to make a grant-in-aid to the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the County of Maui for the career criminal prosecution program.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney and Maui Prosecuting Attorney.

     Your Committee finds that the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the County of Hawaii created the career criminal prosecution unit because a disproportionate amount of serious crimes were committed by a relatively small number of multiple and repeat felony offenders, commonly known as career criminals.  Your Committee further finds that money spent on this unit is an efficient use of resources that provides our citizens with swift and effective justice and reduces heavy caseloads and long court delays.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety, Government Operations, and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2970 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety, Government Operations, and Military Affairs,

____________________________

WILL ESPERO, Chair