STAND. COM. REP. NO. 640

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 61

       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 Judiciary and Labor, to which was referred S.B. No. 61 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO JUVENILES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to provide the option of participating in a restorative justice program for children who are undergoing information adjustment by a court or other designated agency, which program may involve the child and the child's parents or guardian meeting with the victim harmed by the child's law violation.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Community Alliance on Prisons, and two individuals.

     Your Committee finds that many countries and other states provide juveniles involved with the justice system the opportunity to be accountable for their choices by participating in restorative justice programs.  This measure provides the option of participating in a restorative justice program for children who are undergoing informal adjustment by a court or other designated agency, which program may involve the child and the child's parents or guardian meeting with the victim harmed by the child's law violation.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

     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. 61, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 61, 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