STAND. COM. REP. NO. 718

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 230

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 230 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO RESTITUTION FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to clarify that crime victims may be fully reimbursed for all reasonable and verified losses resulting from a defendant's offense, specifically restitution for mental health treatment, counseling, and therapy.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the County of Kauai, Office of the Prosecuting Attorney; City and County of Honolulu, Department of the Prosecuting Attorney; Sex Abuse Treatment Center; and one individual.  Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Public Safety.

 

     Your Committee finds that, due to the current language in section 706-646, Hawaii Revised Statutes, crime victims may not be able to fully recover their reasonable and verified losses resulting from a defendant's offense, specifically lost earnings and expenses for mental health treatment, therapy, and counseling.  Your Committee also finds that crime victims deserve to be compensated for lost earnings due to injuries and related medical expenses as a result of a defendant's offense.  Your Committee believes that the inclusion of specific language to section 706‑646, Hawaii Revised Statutes, will clarify the Legislature's intent for crime victims to recover these reasonable costs.

 

     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. 230 and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

 

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

 

 

 

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair