STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1461

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: S.B. No. 1286

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred S.B. No. 1286, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, 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 of this measure is to appropriate funds as a grant to the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney for Hawaii County for the Career Criminal Prosecution Unit.

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

Your Committee finds that crime has become one of the most prevalent challenges facing the County of Hawaii. Furthermore, a disproportionate amount of serious crimes in the County of Hawaii are committed against the public by a relatively small number of multiple- and repeat-felony offenders, commonly known as "career criminals". Your Committee also finds that under the Career Criminal Prosecution Program, whose purpose is the investigation and prosecution of persons identified as habitual or career criminals, funds are awarded to counties in which career criminal prosecution units are established. This measure appropriates funds as a grant for the County of Hawaii's Career Criminal Prosecution Unit to help support the prosecution of career criminals.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1286, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,

____________________________

AARON LING JOHANSON, Chair