STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2115

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2607

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2607 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO INDEPENDENT LEGAL COUNSEL,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to authorize the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to retain independent counsel as needed, whose legal fees are to be paid for by the State.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and two individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of the Attorney General.

Your Committee finds that when the need arises, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands should be able to employ or retain an attorney for the purposes of representing the State in litigation, rendering legal counsel to the department, or drafting legal documents. This measure will allow the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to do so, and provides that all legal fees owed to independent counsel are to be paid by the State.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2607 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Hawaiian Affairs,

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MAILE S.L. SHIMABUKURO, Chair