STAND. COM. REP. NO. 12

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 121

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 121 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE VI, SECTION 3, OF THE HAWAII STATE CONSTITUTION TO ALLOW THE SENATE MORE TIME TO CONFIRM JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to propose an amendment to article VI, section 3, of the Hawaii State Constitution to allow the Senate sixty days during certain times of the year in which to consider and act on the appointments of justices and judges.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Judiciary.

Your Committee finds that the Hawaii State Constitution requires the Senate to act within thirty days upon receipt of a judicial appointment. Your Committee further finds that judicial appointments have been made throughout the year, including during the interim when the Senate is not in session, requiring the Senate to convene a special session to consider the appointments. Each special session costs approximately $5,000 for airfare and per diem for neighbor island senators, in addition to senator and staff time, and some special sessions address just one or two appointments. Accordingly, this measure will provide flexibility in the scheduling of special sessions and may reduce the number of special sessions by lengthening the period of time allowed for the Senate to consider judicial appointments when the Senate is not in regular session or is about to adjourn the regular session.

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. 121 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