STAND. COM. REP. NO. 761

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 879

       S.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 879 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WITNESSES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to increase certain witness per diem rates.

Specifically, the measure supports witnesses in criminal proceedings by:

     (1)  Raising the per diem rate for out-of-state witnesses from $110 to $145; and

     (2)  Providing an additional $90 per diem payment for witnesses traveling from another island within the State who are required to stay overnight.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Hawaii Tourism Authority and the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu.

     Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

     Your Committee finds that per diem stipends for witnesses who must travel to an island within the State to attend criminal proceedings have remained unchanged for decades and are no longer sufficient to pay for lodging, meals, and other personal expenses.  This measure adjusts per diem stipends to reflect the current cost of living in Hawaii and reduce economic barriers that may discourage or prevent witnesses from participating in criminal proceedings.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing to unspecified amounts:

          (A)  The increased per diem payment for out-of-state witnesses; and

          (B)  The additional per diem payment for witnesses traveling from another island within the State who are required to stay overnight;

     (2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion on this measure; and

     (3)  Making a technical nonsubstantive amendment for the purpose of style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 879, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 879, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair