STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1043

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 197

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Labor, to which was referred H.B. No. 197, H.D. 2, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE JUDICIARY,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for the operating and capital improvement costs of the Judiciary for the fiscal biennium beginning July 1, 2013, and ending June 30, 2015.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Judiciary, Mayor of the County of Hawaii, Office of the Prosecuting Attorney for the County of Hawaii, Crime Victim Compensation Commission, Hawaii State Bar Association, Hawaii Justice Foundation, Child & Family Service, Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, Zonta Club of Hilo, Hawaii Women's Coalition, Hawaii Disability Rights Center, Hawaii Access to Justice Commission, Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, and several concerned individuals.

 

     Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Domestic Violence Action Center.

 

     Your Committee finds that this measure comprises the Judiciary's budget request for program appropriations and capital improvement projects to satisfy requirements set by law, improve public services, and address the needs of employees and clients of the Judiciary.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Increasing the program appropriation amounts for Courts of Appeal (JUD 101) to $6,155,459 for each fiscal year;

 

     (2)  For the First Judicial Circuit (JUD 310):

 

          (A)  Increasing the number of job positions to 1066.50 for each fiscal year, including a social worker IV position; and

 

          (B)  Increasing the program appropriation amounts to $75,213,242 for fiscal year 2013-2014 and $76,298,617 for fiscal year 2014-2015;

 

     (3)  For the Second Judicial Circuit (JUD 320):

 

          (A)  Increasing the number of job positions to 209.00 for each fiscal year; and

 

          (B)  Increasing the program appropriation amounts to $15,174,610 for fiscal year 2013-2014 and $15,161,244 for fiscal year 2014-2015;

 

     (4)  For the Third Judicial Circuit (JUD 330):

 

          (A)  Increasing the number of job positions to 228.00 for each fiscal year; and

 

          (B)  Increasing the program appropriation amounts to $18,014,284 for each fiscal year;

 

     (5)  Decreasing the program appropriation amounts for the Fifth Judicial Circuit (JUD 350) to $6,894,905 for each fiscal year;

 

     (6)  Decreasing the program appropriation amounts for the Judicial Selection Commission (JUD 501) to $88,857 for each fiscal year;

 

     (7)  For Administration (JUD 601):

 

          (A)  Increasing the number of job positions to 227.00 for each fiscal year;

 

          (B)  Changing the program appropriation amounts to $23,298,416 for fiscal year 2013-2014 and $23,282,956 for fiscal year 2014-2015; and

 

          (C)  Providing that of the program appropriation amounts:

 

(i)  $75,000 shall be expended in each fiscal year for one deputy public defender position for the veterans treatment court; and

 

(ii)  $150,000 shall be expended in each fiscal year for two deputy prosecuting attorney positions for the veterans treatment court; and

 

     (8)  Amending the capital improvement project appropriations as follows:

 

          (A)  Changing the total capital improvement project appropriation to $45,500,000 for fiscal year 2013-2014 and $44,500,000 for fiscal year 2014-2015;

 

          (B)  Deleting the following projects from the measure:

 

(i)  Plans for a status offender shelter and juvenile services center on Oahu; and

 

(ii) Design and construction for exterior remedial improvements and exhaust monitoring and ventilation systems upgrade at Hoapili Hale on Maui; and

 

          (C)  Inserting appropriations for the following projects:

 

(i)  New judiciary complex in Kona:  $1,000,000 for design and $44,500,000 for construction in fiscal year 2013-2014 and $44,500,000 for construction in fiscal year 2014-2015; and

 

(ii) New correctional facility adjacent to the new Kona judiciary complex:  unspecified appropriation amounts in fiscal years 2013-2014 and 2014-2015.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Labor that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 197, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 197, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

 

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

 

 

 

____________________________

CLAYTON HEE, Chair