STAND. COM. REP. NO.  412-16

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2016

RE:   H.B. No. 1688

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 1688 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO APPROPRIATIONS TO THE HAWAII COUNTY OFFICE OF THE PROSECUTING ATTORNEY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, County of Hawaii, for its Career Criminal Prosecution Unit.

The Department of the Attorney General, Office of the Prosecuting Attorney of the County of Hawai‘i, Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the County of Maui, and the Hawai‘i County Councilmember representing District 8 testified in support of this measure.

     Your Committee finds that maintaining funding levels for the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney's Career Criminal Prosecution Unit will help to address criminal behavior in the State. Currently, a disproportionate number of serious crimes are committed against the public by a relatively small number of multiple and repeat-felony offenders, known often as "career criminals."  Moving this measure forward will help to ensure the Career Criminal Prosecution Unit continues to have the resources necessary to swiftly and effectively prosecute such offenders and promote justice within the State.

     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. 1688 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair