STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1280

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   S.B. No. 718

      S.D. 1

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 718, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE COMMUNITY COURT OUTREACH PROJECT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to help nonviolent, nonfelony offenders who face drug abuse and mental health challenges by establishing the Community Court Outreach Project with the coordinated efforts of the Judiciary, Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu, and Public Defender in the City and County of Honolulu and appropriating funds to the Judiciary and Department of Public Safety for the purposes of the Project.

The Judiciary, Office of the Public Defender, Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness, City and County of Honolulu Department of the Prosecuting Attorney, Community Alliance on Prisons, Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition, Action With Aloha, The Salvation Army Addiction Treatment Services and Family Treatment Services, American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii, and several individuals testified in support of the measure.  The Department of Public Safety provided comments.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by replacing its contents with H.B. No. 457, H.D. 1, which was heard by your Committee on February 1, 2017, and which is a similar measure, except that it:

     (1)  Deletes the provision that restricted the court from ordering imprisonment;

     (2)  Deletes the appropriation to the Department of Public Safety to provide security for the project;

     (3)  Changes the effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

     (4)  Makes technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, style, and consistency.

     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. 718, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 718, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

SCOTT Y. NISHIMOTO, Chair