STAND. COM. REP. NO.  291

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

RE:   H.B. No. 196

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 196 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO VETERANS TREATMENT COURT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to recognize the unique needs of veterans entering the criminal justice system with mental illness and substance abuse issues arising from their service to our country by working towards establishing a veterans treatment court in the First Circuit.  Specifically, this measure authorizes the establishment of, and provides funding for:

     (1)  A permanent, full-time, Social Worker IV position in the Judiciary;

     (2)  A permanent, full-time, deputy public defender position in the Office of the Public Defender; and

     (3)  Two temporary, full-time, deputy prosecuting attorney positions within the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu, through a Grant-in-Aid.

The Judiciary; the Office of the Public Defender; the Military Officers Association of America, Hawaii Chapter; the Vietnam Veterans Post 10583 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars; The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii; and several concerned individuals testified in support of the measure.  The State Office of Veterans Services provided comments.  

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 196 and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair