STAND. COM. REP. NO. 26

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 428

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. 428 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Increase the fees paid to witnesses in civil and criminal trials;

(2) Change the fees paid for travel expenses from twenty 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 received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of the Public Defender.

Your Committee finds that the ability to call upon witnesses is an important factor in whether justice can effectively be served. The existing fee paid to witnesses has never been raised from $4. Your Committee also finds that the federal government and several states pay and reimburse witnesses at higher rates than existing state law permits. This measure will acknowledge the critical role witnesses play in the administration of justice and help to offset the time away from work and family that witnesses spend participating in judicial proceedings.

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. 428 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