STAND. COM. REP. NO. 171

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                   

 

RE:     S.B. No. 852

        S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 852 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 reimbursement to crime victims includes lost earnings, mental health treatment, counseling, and therapy.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Psychological Association, Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, and one individual.

 

     Your Committee finds that ambiguity exists as to what losses are eligible for reimbursement to victims of crimes.  Your Committee further finds that losses suffered by victims of crimes can include things such as the cost of damaged or stolen property and hospitalization, as well as lost earnings and the cost of mental health treatment.  Your Committee additionally finds that in order for the victim of a crime to be made as whole as possible, a broader range of losses should be explicitly made eligible for reimbursement, which is what this measure aims to do.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Removing redundant statutory language;

 

     (2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2019; and

 

     (3)  Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

 

     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 S.B. No. 852, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 852, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

 

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

 

 

 

________________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair