STAND. COM. REP. NO. 677

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 26

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 26 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO THE OFFICE OF THE PROSECUTING ATTORNEY FOR HAWAII COUNTY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds as a grant-in-aid to the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney of the County of Hawaii for the Career Criminal Prosecution Unit.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of the Attorney General; County of Hawaii; Department of the Prosecuting Attorney, City and County of Honolulu; Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, County of Hawaii; Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce; and one individual.

     Your Committee finds that supporting a strong and effective prosecutor's office is vital to protecting the health, safety, and welfare of the public.  In 1979, the Legislature created the Career Criminal Prosecution Program to address the problem of "career criminals" who are responsible for a disproportionate number of the serious crimes committed against the public.  This program has been effective in assisting prosecutors' offices in the counties in delivering swift and effective justice. 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1)  Changing the amount appropriated from $200,000 to an unspecified amount; and

(2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 26, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 26, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair