CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 122

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: S.B. No. 428

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. 428, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WITNESS FEES,"

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) Amend the fees paid to witnesses in civil and criminal trials;

(2) Change the fees paid for travel expenses from 20 cents a mile to the mileage allowance prescribed by the Administrator of General Services; and

(3) Authorize reimbursement to witnesses in civil trials for use of common carriers.

Your Committee on Conference finds that witnesses are crucial for the justice system to properly function. This measure acknowledges the critical role witnesses play in the administration of justice and will help to offset the time away from work and family that witnesses spend participating in judicial proceedings.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the fees paid to witnesses for their attendance in civil trials from an unspecified amount to:

(A) $30 for each day's attendance in court; and

(B) $36 for each day's attendance in court for each witness coming from any island other than that upon which the court is holding session;

(2) Changing the fees paid to witnesses for their attendance in criminal trials from an unspecified amount to $40 for each day's attendance in court;

(3) Amending section 1 to reflect its amended purpose; and

(4) 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. 428, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 428, 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	____________________________ DRU KANUHA Co-Chair