STAND. COM. REP. 2645

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2004

RE: S.B. No. 2748

S.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2748, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DRUG DEMAND REDUCTION ASSESSMENTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to strengthen and make permanent the legislation providing for payment of drug demand reduction assessments by certain offenders.

Specifically, this measure:

(1) Expands the number of offenses for which the assessments may be imposed and makes those assessments mandatory;

(2) Adds interest accrued on assessments to the special fund into which the assessments are deposited;

(3) Requires restitution, probation, and crime victim compensation fees to be paid prior to any monetary assessment;

(4) Places the burden on the offender to show an inability to pay fees; and

(5) Deletes the sunset provision by which the authority to impose drug demand reduction assessments would otherwise expire on June 30, 2004.

Your Committee finds that the main purpose of the drug demand reduction assessments is to supplement the funding for drug treatment and other drug demand reduction programs. It seems fair and right that those who violate drug and alcohol laws, by distributing or using illegal narcotic drugs or abusing alcohol, should be required to contribute to programs that treat drug users and try to prevent the illegal use of drugs in our community.

Thus, the intent of this bill is not to impose a fine or to exact punishment on persons convicted of drug offenses. Rather, the drug demand reduction assessments is a remedial measure, intended to help correct the evils of drug abuse and addiction for which the offender is partly responsible.

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. 2748, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair