CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 126-16

Honolulu, Hawaii

                 , 2016

RE:    S.B. No. 2106

       H.D. 1

       C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sirs:

     Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 2106, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WITNESSES,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

     The purpose of this measure is to:

     (1)  Increase the per diem payments for an out-of-state witness in criminal cases from $145 to an unspecified amount; and

     (2)  Increase the per diem payment supplement from $90 to an unspecified amount for a witness from any island other than the island on which the court is located when that witness is required to stay overnight.

     Your Committee on Conference finds that the criminal case witness per diem stipend amounts have not kept pace with Hawaii's cost of living.  Given the increases in costs for lodging and food, the existing per diem stipend amounts are insufficient to cover personal expenses and, as a result, may prevent victims of crimes from pursuing charges against criminal offenders.  This measure increases the per diem stipend amounts for out-of-state witnesses and witnesses who require an overnight stay on another island in the State to support and encourage victims and other witnesses to report criminal offenses and pursue criminal charges.

     Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Inserting a per diem amount of $200 for an out-of-state witness in a criminal case;

     (2)  Inserting a per diem amount of $145 for a witness from any island other than the island on which the court is located when that witness is required to stay overnight; and

     (3)  Changing the effective date to upon approval.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2106, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2106, H.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ KARL RHOADS, Co-Chair	________________________________ GILBERT S.C. KEITH-AGARAN, Chair
____________________________ MATTHEW LOPRESTI, Co-Chair	________________________________ BRICKWOOD GALUTERIA, Co-Chair