STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1113

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

RE:   S.B. No. 879

      S.D. 1

      H.D. 1

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 S.B. No. 879, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WITNESSES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to encourage the cooperation of witnesses by increasing the amount of the per diem stipend for out-of-state witnesses and allowing additional compensation for witnesses who must travel to another island when an overnight stay is required.

The Crime Victim Compensation Commission, the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu, and the Hawaii Tourism Authority supported this measure.  The Department of Budget and Finance submitted comments.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Specifying that the per diem rate for out-of-state witnesses shall increase from $110 to $145 and that witnesses traveling from another island within the State who are required to stay overnight shall receive an additional $90 per twenty-four hour day; and

     (2)  Making the measure effective upon its approval.

     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 S.B. No. 879, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 879, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair