STAND. COM. REP. NO. 342

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 1518

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

 

Madam President:

 

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Labor, to which was referred S.B. No. 1518 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FAMILY COURT,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to increase fees for court-appointed counsel and guardian ad litem in family court cases and to require the Judiciary to provide the Department of Budget and Finance with fee related information so that the department can approve the necessary vouchers.

 

     Your Committee received testimony from the Family Court in support of the bill.  Your Committee also received testimony from the Department of Budget and Finance who took no position on the fees but opposed the transfer of payment and budget functions to Budget and Finance. The Family Court testified that they were aware of Budget and Finance's opposition to section (c) of the bill but had not been able to meet with the Department of Budget and Finance to resolve this problem.  She agreed with the committee that section (c) remain in the bill.
     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Labor that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1518 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

 

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

 

 

 

____________________________

CLAYTON HEE, Chair