STAND. COM. REP. NO. 907

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 35

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 35, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CIVIL LEGAL SERVICES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to expand access to civil legal services in the State.

More specifically, the measure appropriates funds to the Judiciary to purchase civil legal services for low- and moderate-income persons.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Human Services, Hawaii Friends of Civil Rights, The Legal Clinic, Hawaii Coalition for Immigrant Rights, Volunteer Legal Services Hawaii, Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, Hawaii Access to Justice Commission, and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that this measure's appropriation will support nonprofit and volunteer organizations that provide quality legal services to low- and moderate-income persons who require these services but cannot afford to pay for them.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the appropriation from $1,200,000 to an unspecified amount; and

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 35, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 35, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair