STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2479

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 3068

       S.D. 1

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Labor, to which was referred S.B. No. 3068 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO BAIL BONDS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to streamline enforcement procedures for bail bondsmen regarding bail bond forfeitures.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Da Kine Bail Bonds, Inc.  The Judiciary submitted testimony in opposition to this measure.

     Your Committee finds that the existing procedures for bail bond forfeitures is long and tedious, and fails to properly hold the bail bondsman and bail insurance company timely accountable for the forfeited bail bond.  As a result, Da Kine Bail Bonds, Inc., testified that the State is unable to recoup approximately $9,000,000 in forfeited bail bonds due to this process.  While your Committee recognizes the concerns raised by the Judiciary, your Committee believes that this measure proposes a method that improves the procedures for the payment of forfeited bail bonds.  As such, your Committee encourages the Judiciary and Da Kine Bail Bonds to continue the discussion on this matter and develop more streamlined language as this measure moves through the legislative process.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to ensure further discussion; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     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. 3068, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3068, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary and Labor,

____________________________

CLAYTON HEE, Chair