STAND. COM. REP. NO. 145

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1078

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 1078 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTRONIC CITATIONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Establish a statewide electronic citation program under the Judiciary; and

(2) Appropriate funds.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Judiciary, Department of Law Enforcement, Department of Transportation, Honolulu Police Department, Hawai‘i Police Department, and one individual. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that the use of paper citations sometimes gives rise to difficulties, including supervisors, prosecutors, and judiciary personnel having to decipher handwritten notes that are difficult to read, as well as untimely delivery of citations from law enforcement agencies to the Judiciary. These difficulties have the potential to lead to delays in access to citations and to dismissal of traffic citations. Your Committee further finds that the use of an electronic citation system resolves handwriting legibility issues and eliminates the need to collect and scan paper citations. This measure provides numerous benefits to law enforcement, the Judiciary, and the general public, including the streamlining of processes and increased access to information.

Should your Committee on Ways and Means choose to deliberate on this measure, your committee respectfully requests that it considers inserting an appropriation amount of $370,000 for the Judiciary's one-time start-up costs. Your Committee also notes that separate funding for the counties may also be needed.

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. 1078 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