STAND. COM. REP. NO. 10

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 261

S.D. 1

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. 261 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO JURY DUTY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Increase the amount each juror or prospective juror is paid for each day of actual attendance at court; and

(2) Appropriate funds.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Judiciary, Office of the Public Defender, one member of the Kauaʻi County Council, Hawaii State Bar Association, and one individual.

Your Committee finds that juror compensation was last increased in 1989 from $20 to $30 per day. Since that time, the cost of living in the State has drastically increased. Your Committee believes that raising the daily rate will provide some relief and show the State's appreciation for those who serve in this important civic duty. This measure will ensure a diverse jury pool by allowing people from varying socioeconomic backgrounds to participate in the judicial system while acknowledging the sacrifice the State's citizenry makes to serve on a jury.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the increased amount a juror shall be paid for each day of actual attendance at court to an unspecified amount;

(2) Changing the appropriation to an unspecified amount; and

(3) Inserting an effective date of April 23, 2057, to encourage further discussion.

Your Committee notes that this measure, as amended, contains an unspecified increase in the amount each juror or prospective juror is paid for each day of actual attendance at court. Should your Committee on Ways and Means choose to deliberate on this measure, your Committee respectfully requests that it consider inserting an increased amount paid to each juror or prospective juror of $75 for each day of actual attendance at court. Accounting for inflation, the current rate of $30 that was set in 1989 adjusts to $75, not the $50 rate as initially proposed by this measure.

Your Committee further notes that this measure, as amended, contains an unspecified appropriation amount. Should your Committee on Ways and Means choose to deliberate on this measure, your Committee respectfully requests that it consider inserting an appropriation amount of $1,539,866 to increase the amount each juror or prospective juror is paid for each day of actual attendance at court to $75.

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. 261, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 261, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,

________________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair