STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1254-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.B. No. 2740

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2740, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO GUARDIANS AD LITEM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Allow the Judiciary to compensate guardians ad litem for involuntary hospitalization and assisted community treatment petitions at a rate higher than existing statutory guidelines; and

(2) Appropriate funds to the Judiciary for compensation of guardians ad litem appointed to individuals who are the subject of a petition for involuntary hospitalization or assisted community treatment and related costs.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Judiciary; Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu; The Institute for Human Services, Inc.; and three individuals.

Your Committee finds that guardians ad litem serve a vital role in supporting and advocating for persons who are being considered for involuntary hospitalization or assisted community treatment. This measure will allow the Judiciary to increase the number of guardians ad litem assisting these vulnerable persons and ensure that adequate compensation is provided when handling these cases.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to January 1, 2222, to encourage further discussion; and

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

Should your Committee on Finance choose to deliberate on this measure, your Committee respectfully requests that the Committee on Finance give consideration to $100,000 as the appropriate amount for the funds requested in this measure.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2740, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2740, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

MARK M. NAKASHIMA, Chair