STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3388

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 1669

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1669, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FAMILY COURT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to fund additional positions in the Family Court of the First Circuit.

     Specifically, this measure would fund one permanent full-time equivalent Family Court Judge position, two permanent full-time equivalent Circuit Court Clerk II positions, and one permanent full-time equivalent Court Bailiff position.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Judiciary - Family Court of the First Circuit; Hawaii State Bar Association Family Law Section; Mitsuyama and Rebman; Kleintop, Luria and Medeiros; and two individuals.  The Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu submitted written comments on the measure.

     Your Committee finds that the Family Court of the First Circuit adjudicates more cases and motions than any other court in the State and often experiences lengthy delays for post-decree divorce motion hearings and other matters.  However, this growing caseload has not been matched with sufficient resources.  Your Committee believes that providing funding for an additional judge and related staff positions will help reduce the delays in family court litigation and assist in resolving cases and disputes.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and 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 H.B. No. 1669, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1669, H.D. 2, S.D. 1.

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

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair