STAND. COM. REP. NO. 869-00

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 2000

                                 RE: H.B. No. 2650
                                     H.D. 1




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No.
2650 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE JUDICIARY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to provide supplemental
appropriations and authorizations for the operation of and
capital improvements for the Judiciary by amending Act 156,
Session Laws of Hawaii 1999, for the 1999-2001 fiscal biennium.

     The Judiciary submitted testimony in support of this bill.

     For the past ten years, the State has coped with economic
stagnation while most of the nation has enjoyed economic growth.
Although still far from prosperity, Hawaii's economy appears to
be slowly recovering.  In December 1999, the Council on Revenues
reported that tax-based revenues can be expected to rise by
approximately one percent in each fiscal year from fiscal year
2001-2002 to fiscal year 2005-2006.  Given the positive outlook
on this and other types of leading economic indicators, your
Committee is cautiously optimistic about the growth of our
economy.

     The Judiciary is entrusted with the enormous responsibility
of interpreting laws, administering justice, and upholding both
our Federal and State Constitutions.  In meeting these
responsibilities, the Judiciary is constantly faced with pressing
budgetary needs.  Nevertheless, the Judiciary has consistently

 
 
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participated in budget reduction initiatives.  It has further
supported the State by implementing its own initiatives to
generate new revenues.

     This measure balances your Committee's understanding of the
significance of the Judiciary's mission and the reality of the
current fiscal condition.  With that in mind, your Committee
recommends that the Judiciary's operating budget be increased to
$96,461,127 for fiscal year 2000-2001.

     Your Committee would like to highlight four areas of funding
for the Judiciary:

     (1)  The Maui Drug Court Program;

     (2)  Office leases for new judgeships;

     (3)  The Human Resources Information and Management System;
          and

     (4)  Capital Improvement Projects.

THE MAUI DRUG COURT PROGRAM

     The Drug Court Program (Program) was first implemented on
Oahu in 1995.  Since then, it has proven to be a very effective
and cost-efficient alternative to incarceration for nonviolent
drug offenders.

     To address a growing drug abuse problem on Maui, your
Committee supports the Judiciary's efforts to expand the Program
to that island.  Funds have been provided to match the $90,000 in
federal funds earmarked for the Program.  Additional funds have
been provided for a social worker, and $125,000 has been set
aside for substance treatment services.

OFFICE LEASES FOR NEW JUDGESHIPS

     Last session, the Legislature approved two new judge
positions: one for the Third Circuit Family Court and one for the
Fifth Circuit Court.  To accommodate these much needed positions,
your Committee supports the Judiciary in dedicating $241,700 to
provide new office leases for these judges and their staffs.

THE HUMAN RESOURCES INFORMATION AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

     The Judiciary has long searched for a system that would
enhance its personnel management capabilities.  Relying on a key-
punch data entry system provided by the Executive Branch has

 
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proven to be inadequate in maintaining the Judiciary's employee
and payroll data.  Therefore, your Committee supports the
Judiciary's investment of $400,000 for a state-of-the-art, on-
line personnel management system that will enable it to
effectively manage personnel resources and needs.

CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS

     Your Committee has provided an additional $6,990,000 for the
following new projects:

     (1)  $6,501,000 for land acquisition for the Hilo Judiciary
          Complex;

     (2)  $265,000 for roof and structural improvements to
          Aliiolani Hale; and

     (3)  $224,000 for improvements to Koloa District Court and
          the Lihue Office Annex.


     As the session continues, and as the State's economic
outlook becomes more apparent, your Committee is committed to
working closely with the Senate to produce a fair and reasonable
supplemental budget for the Judiciary.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your
Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No.
2650, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third
Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2650, H.D. 1.

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



                                   ______________________________
                                   DWIGHT Y. TAKAMINE, Chair