STAND. COM. REP. NO.  661-08

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

 

RE:   H.B. No. 2766

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 2766, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTRONIC MONITORING,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to protect victims of domestic violence from their abusers by allowing the courts to:

 

     (1)  Prohibit contact with the victim by establishing court-defined geographic exclusion zones; and

 

     (2)  Require the defendant to wear a global positioning satellite tracking device.

 

This bill also appropriates funds to cover costs associated with the electronic devices for defendants who are unable to pay.

 

     The Domestic Violence Action Center, Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, and VOICES testified in support of this bill.  The Office of the Public Defender opposed this measure.

 

     Your Committee has some concerns about the necessity of this measure because section 706-624(2)(p) and (q), Hawaii Revised Statutes, already provides for electronic monitoring.  Your Committee also notes some concerns that were raised regarding the details of this program including costs, vendor-associated details, and other implementation issues.

     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. 2766, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance.

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

TOMMY WATERS, Chair