STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3068

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2500

H.D. 2

S.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 2500, H.D. 2, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to provide supplemental appropriations for the expenses of the Judiciary.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Judiciary. The Hawaii State Bar Association Family Law Section, the Honolulu Family Court Professionals, the Domestic Violence Clearinghouse and Legal Hotline, and four individuals submitted testimony of conditional support for this measure.

Your Committee finds that the Judiciary is a separate and independent branch of government that should be afforded latitude in making decisions that affect its administration of the courts.

Your Committee further finds that there are some concerns regarding the Kapolei Judicial Complex project. Members of the Hawaii State Bar Association and members of the public have expressed concern about the Judiciary's decision to move a substantial portion of the family law services to Kapolei. The Chair is not inclined to require that a proportionate amount of family law services remain in the Honolulu area; however, the Chair requests the Committee on Ways and Means to consider inserting a proviso to address these concerns.

Your Committee has amended this measure to:

(1) Change the appropriation for the probation modification project from $639,224 to $1,239,000;

(2) Appropriate $1,013,609 to the Domestic Violence Clearinghouse and Legal Hotline;

(3) Reinsert the CIP appropriation of $48,000,000 for the Kapolei Judicial Complex; and

(4) Change the effective date from July 1, 2020, to July 1, 2006.

Your Committee would also recommend that the Judiciary's

budget worksheets convert the $249,475 appropriation to Na Loio Immigrant Legal Service from a purchase of service to a grant-in-aid.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2500, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2500, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

COLLEEN HANABUSA, Chair