STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1058

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 192

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 192, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO BAIL,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to authorize courts to order the release of certain qualifying criminal defendants upon the execution of unsecured financial bonds.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Office of the Public Defender; Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii; Young Progressives Demanding Action; LGBT Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii; Community Alliance on Prisons; IMUAlliance; We Are One, Inc.; Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii; Ohana Hoopakele; Prince Kuhio Hawaiian Civic Club; and numerous individuals.

 

     Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Hawaii Disability Rights Center.

 

     Your Committee recognizes that a defendant in custody who lacks sufficient cash resources to pay the necessary amount of bail can be detained for weeks, months, or even longer before a trial is conducted.  Your Committee further finds that, in the meantime, the defendant faces the potential loss of employment, housing, or child custody.  Your Committee recognizes that this measure is intended to provide certain defendants a process by which they may petition the courts for unsecured bail, and when appropriate, a means for the courts to grant those petitions.

 

     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. 192, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

 

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

 

 

 

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair