STAND. COM. REP. NO. 298

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 864

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 864 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish a four-year Pacific Cultural Court Pilot Program in the Family Court of the First Circuit.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Judiciary, Office of the Public Defender, Hawai‘i Youth Services Network, and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that Micronesians, Native Hawaiians, and other Pacific Islanders and people of color are overrepresented in the State's juvenile justice system. This measure will address this disparity through family and community involvement and culturally responsive approaches to reduce recidivism.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

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

Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider an appropriation amount of $400,000.

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 H.B. No. 864, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 864, 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,

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair