STAND. COM. REP. NO.  926

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

RE:   H.B. No. 197

      H.D. 2

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 197, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE JUDICIARY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for the operating and capital improvement costs of the Judiciary for fiscal years 2013-2014 and 2014-2015.

The Judiciary, Office of the Prosecuting Attorney of the County of Hawaii, Hawaii Access to Justice Commission, Hawaii State Bar Association, Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, Volunteer Legal Services Hawaii, West Hawaii Bar Association, Hawaii Disability Rights Center, Hawaii Justice Foundation, Gay Lesbian Bisexual and Transgender Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Mediation Center of the Pacific, Child & Family Service, and numerous concerned individuals supported this bill.  The Domestic Violence Action Center and a concerned individual submitted comments.

     During the Regular Session of 2009, the State was faced with a $1,100,000,000 deficit.  To meet this loss of funding, Act 85, Session Laws of Hawaii (SLH) 2009, was enacted "to reduce the salaries and leaves of absence of certain members of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches, beginning July 1, 2009 until June 30, 2011."  However, during the Regular Session of 2011, Act 57, SLH 2011, extended the salary reduction and freeze to December 31, 2013, until Act 48, SLH 2012, effectively ended the pay freeze on June 30, 2013.  Accordingly, your Committee has provided $4,465,777 to restore all judges' salaries.

     Your Committee supports the Judiciary's efforts to increase services to the public and has provided one position each for the Juvenile Probation Violator's Weekend Program (JPVWP) and the Juvenile Restitution Program (JRP).  The JPVWP allows the Judiciary to send probation violators to weekend classes at the Alder Street facility in Honolulu as opposed to sending every violator to the Kapolei detention facility.  The JRP is intended to link youths with local businesses to help youth probation violators to begin paying restitution.  Additional support for Hawaii Children's Justice Centers on the Neighbor Islands was also given.  The current process of contracting with private providers to interview children who are victims of or are affected by domestic violence, custody or safety issues has resulted in delays in services, often for weeks.  Therefore, your Committee has provided four positions and $282,000 over the fiscal biennium to bring the services in-house to help ensure more timely delivery.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 197, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 197, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair