STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1008

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

RE:   S.B. No. 144

      S.D. 1

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 144, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO JURY TRIAL,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to increase the threshold value in controversy requirement for a jury trial in a civil case at common law from $5,000 to $10,000.

One concerned individual testified in support of this measure.

The threshold value was last amended in 1988.  This measure will reduce the costs to litigants and the burden on the circuit courts and the jury pool.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by specifying that this Act shall take effect upon its approval and upon ratification of a constitutional amendment to increase the threshold value in controversy requirement for jury trials in civil cases at common law from $5,000 to $10,000.

     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. 144, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 144, 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