STAND. COM. REP. NO.650

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2001

RE: S.B. No. 1180

S.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1180 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE CRIME VICTIM COMPENSATION SPECIAL FUND,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to exempt the crime victim compensation special fund from the central services and administrative expenses deductions.

Your Committee finds that in fiscal year 2000, the special fund paid over $45,000 in central services and administrative expenses, and estimates that it will pay over $60,000 for the next fiscal year. Funding to pay these assessments is not included in the Crime Victim Compensation Commission's budget and must be taken out of operating expenses. Two of the Commission's six positions have been left vacant in order to reserve funds to meet these assessments.

The resulting staff shortage has limited the Commission's ability to serve the people of the State. This staffing shortage will be exacerbated on July 1, 2001 when the thirty percent cap on the Commission's operating expenses will be restored. Act 278, Session Laws of Hawaii 1999, temporarily removed the cap until July 1, 2001. This cap limits operating expenses to thirty percent of non-tax revenues. These administrative and central services expenses are considered operating expenses and will take even more funds away from staff, therefore reducing the commission's ability to serve even further.

Your Committee expresses concern that the Crime Victim Compensation Commission has limited resources because the Judiciary is not collecting in all eligible cases the compensation fee pursuant to section 351-62.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes. However, the Executive Director for the Commission did state to your Committee that she is working with the Judiciary to increase collections. Therefore, your Committee does not believe any action should be taken at this time.

Your Committee has amended the bill by making a technical correction to the reference on the date that section 36-27 will be reenacted.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1180, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1180, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair