STAND. COM. REP. NO. 667

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2005

RE: H.B. No. 1002

H.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 1002, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC INTEREST ATTORNEYS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to encourage and enable attorneys to practice law in the public interest by establishing a loan repayment program (Program) and special fund for licensed attorneys who practice public interest law in Hawaii.

The Office of the Public Defender, American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii, Hawaii Women Lawyers, Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, Life of the Land, William S. Richardson Loan Assistance Repayment Program Committee, and numerous concerned individuals testified in support of this bill. The University of Hawaii School of Law supported the intent of the measure. The Department of Budget and Finance opposed this bill. A concerned individual offered comments.

Your Committee has amended this bill by:

(1) Requiring an attorney to practice law in the public interest in the state for a minimum of three years to qualify for the Program; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

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 H.B. No. 1002, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1002, H.D. 2.

 

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

 

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair