STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2564

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2619

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 2619 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 to the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney of the County of Hawai‘i for the career criminal prosecution unit.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of the Mayor of the County of Hawai‘i, Office of the Prosecuting Attorney of the County of Hawai‘i, and Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu.

Your Committee finds 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 Committee further finds 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 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. 2619 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

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KARL RHOADS, Chair