STAND. COM. REP. NO. 401

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 407

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs and Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 407 entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney for Hawaii County for the career criminal prosecution unit.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of the Attorney General, Office of the Prosecuting Attorney for Hawaii County, and Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu.

Your Committees find that a disproportionate number of serious crimes against the public are committed by a relatively small number of multiple and repeat-felony offenders, commonly known as "career criminals". Your Committees further find that by their nature, career criminal prosecution cases are often labor intensive and require experienced and well-trained deputy prosecutors. This measure appropriates funds to staff the career criminal prosecution unit so that the prosecution of career criminals can be more effectively pursued.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs and Judiciary that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 407 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs and Judiciary,

________________________________ KARL RHOADS, Chair

________________________________ CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair