Report Title:

Children's Justice Center; CIP

Description:

Authorizes issuance of general obligation bonds and appropriates the proceeds for land acquisition and construction of a new Children's Justice Center.

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

962

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2003

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS AND MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE CHILDREN'S JUSTICE CENTER.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The Children's Justice Center (Center), formerly known as the Children's Advocacy Center, is a program under the judiciary under chapter 588, Hawaii Revised Statutes. The Center operates the children's justice program to, among other things, develop, achieve, and maintain interagency and interprofessional cooperation and coordination in the investigation of and case management of intrafamilial and extrafamilial child sex abuse and serious physical child abuse cases. The mission of the children's justice program is to provide for the needs of child witnesses (usually victims) by promoting coordination for appropriate investigation, treatment, and legal processes, thereby reducing and preventing unnecessary trauma to children and ensuring justice for children and their families.

The Center is in the process of moving from its current location on Pali highway to a new location adjacent to the circuit court building, Kaahumanu Hale and the judiciary is also negotiating with the land owner to obtain the land by purchase, lease, or condemnation. In addition, moneys are needed for design, plans, and construction of the new building, which would house public and private agencies that partner with the Center to more efficiently and effectively deliver services to victims of child abuse and their families to ensure that their physical, psychological, and legal needs are met.

The purpose of this Act is to authorize the issuance of general obligation bonds and appropriate moneys for the new Center.

SECTION 2. The director of finance is authorized to issue general obligation bonds in the sum of $4,250,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for fiscal year 2003-2004, for the new Children's Justice Center, Oahu.

SECTION 3. The appropriation made for capital improvement projects authorized in this Act for fiscal year 2003-2004, shall not lapse at the end of the fiscal year for which the appropriation is made; provided that all appropriations which are unencumbered as of June 30, 2006, shall lapse as of that date.

SECTION 4. The sum appropriated shall be expended by the judiciary for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2003.

INTRODUCED BY:

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