CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 120

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: S.B. No. 264

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir and Madam:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 264, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE EXAMINATION OF CRIMINAL DEFENDANTS,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Establish the amount of compensation for private‑sector examiners who evaluate a criminal defendant's fitness to proceed or penal responsibility in a legal case; and

(2) Appropriate funds.

Your Committee on Conference finds that the existing fee structure for the compensation for court-appointed forensic examiners providing services to the Judiciary has made it challenging to recruit and retain professionals with the necessary expertise. This measure will ensure that the State is able to maintain a pool of qualified and available examiners capable and willing to provide essential services for documenting and reporting their findings to the court.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an appropriation amount of $975,000 for the Judiciary to compensate private-sector examiners who evaluate a criminal defendant's fitness to proceed or penal responsibility in a legal case; and

(2) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2025.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 264, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 264, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ DAVID A. TARNAS Co-Chair	____________________________ KARL RHOADS Chair
____________________________ LISA KITAGAWA Co-Chair	____________________________ HENRY J.C. AQUINO Co-Chair