STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2042

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1346

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 1346 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO JUROR COMPENSATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to increase compensation for a juror or a prospective juror from $30 to $50 for each day of attendance at court after serving five consecutive days.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Judiciary.

Your Committee finds that the payment for jury service under chapter 612, Hawaii Revised Statutes, represents the Legislature's acknowledgement and appreciation of the sacrifice the citizenry makes to serve as jurors. Despite this intent, the last increase in juror fees was in 1986 when the rate was raised from $20 per day to the current $30 per day. Your Committee believes that the State should continue to recognize the sacrifice the citizenry makes to serve as jurors. This measure will exhibit the State's acknowledgement of this sacrifice by increasing juror fees for the first time since 1986.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing a juror's or prospective juror's per diem compensation from $30 to $50 for each day of actual attendance at court, rather than requiring a juror or prospective juror to serve for five consecutive days before receiving a pay increase from $30 to $50 per day; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

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. 1346, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1346, S.D. 1, 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