STAND. COM. REP. NO. 133

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1286

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 1286 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 for Hawaii County for the Career Criminal Prosecution Unit.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu; Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, County of Hawai‘i; and two individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from three individuals.

Your Committee finds that a disproportionate amount of serious crimes are committed against the public by a relatively small number of multiple and repeat-felony offenders, commonly known as career criminals. Your Committee further finds that the Career Criminal Prosecution Unit was created to more efficiently and effectively prosecute career criminals. Your Committee additionally finds that funding Career Criminal Prosecution programs serves the public interest by providing citizens with swift and effective justice, as well as reducing heavy caseloads and court delays.

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. 1286 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