STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3421

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 2700

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 2700, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

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

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

The purpose of this measure is to provide the Judiciary with the supplemental appropriations and authorizations for its operations and capital improvements for fiscal biennium 2007-2009 by amending the Judiciary Appropriations Act of 2007.

 

Your Committee provided an additional $4,199,468 in general funds and $144,556 in special funds, increasing the Judiciary’s total budget for fiscal year 2008-2009 to $140,706,652.

 

In light of the most recent financial projections, your Committee took a conservative approach in providing funding for fiscal year 2008-2009.  The following items were provided to the Judiciary to address safety concerns:

    

(1)         $111,479 in general funds to replace metal detectors and x-ray machines;

 

(2)         $120,560 in general funds to replace air conditioner condenser water pipes;

 

(3)         $200,000 in general funds to replace carpeting; and

 

(4)         $442,472 in general funds for risk management purposes.

 

Your Committee recognizes the need to support the Judiciary in its efforts to provide services to the public.  Your Committee provided the Judiciary with the following items to expand vital services and programs:

 

(1)          $28,000 in general funds to provide medical care to juveniles housed at the detention facility;

 

(2)          $208,000 in general funds for increased psychiatric/psychological fees;

 

(3)          $443,064 in general funds to expand the Maui/Molokai Drug Court;

 

(4)          $215,637 in general funds and four positions to expand the Hamakua North/South Kohala court;

 

(5)          $110,000 in general funds to expand court interpreter services;

 

(6)          $1,906,658 in general funds for contracted guardian ad litem and court-appointed counsel fees; and

 

(7)          $150,000 in general funds to expand existing domestic violence services.

 

In order to provide access to legal services for those who otherwise cannot obtain them, your Committee also provided the Judiciary $2,050,000 for the following grants-in-aid service providers:  Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, Volunteer Legal Services, Hawaii Family Law Clinic, Children’s Alliance of Hawaii, and Na Loio.

 

Your Committee's capital improvements appropriations for the Judiciary focus on completion of the Kapolei Judiciary Complex Phase I and necessary renovation and repair of existing facilities statewide. General obligation bond funds of $14,660,000 were provided for the Judiciary for fiscal year 2008-2009, including $9,225,000 for equipment for the Kapolei facility; funds for remodeling of facilities vacated by staff moving to the Kapolei Complex; critical improvements necessary for public access and safety at court facilities; and funds to begin planning for a status offender shelter and juvenile services center at the current site of the juvenile detention facility that is moving to Kapolei.

 

Finally, your Committee made technical amendments for clarity and consistency.

 

     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 H.B. No. 2700, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2700, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.

 

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

 

 

 

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair