STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1426

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                   

 

RE:     H.B. No. 510

        H.D. 2

        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 H.B. No. 510, H.D. 2, entitled:

 

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

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds for operating and capital improvement costs of the Judiciary for the fiscal biennium beginning July 1, 2019, and ending June 30, 2021.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Judiciary, Kauai Bar, Hawaii State Bar Association, Maui County Bar Association, Hawaii State Bar Association's Appellate Section, West Hawaii Bar Association, and two individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that the appropriations made by this measure will assist the Judiciary in its efforts to fulfill its constitutional and statutory duties for the 2019-2021 fiscal biennium.

 

     Your Committee specifically notes that it has retained Part IV of the measure, appropriating $445,768 for the purpose of operating the community outreach court project.

 


     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

(1)  Adding $800,000 in each fiscal year to JUD601 - Administration for general civil legal services for low- and moderate-income residents;

 

(2)  Adding one new full-time social worker position to JUD601 - Administration, to focus on matters that arise from the Office of the Public Guardian relating to persons with severe mental illnesses;

 

(3)  Restoring the six positions and courthouse operating expenses in both fiscal years for the new Kona courthouse that were deleted from this measure by the House of Representatives;

 

(4)  Eliminating thirty-three currently vacant positions, including thirty-one positions in JUD310 and two positions in JUD601, resulting in a reduction of the Judiciary's base budget of over $1,300,000 in each fiscal year; and

 

(5)  Restoring capital improvement projects that were deleted by the House of Representatives, comprising:

 

          (A)  $1,800,000 for air conditioning improvements for Aliiolani Hale on Oahu;

 

          (B)  $850,000 for structural improvements and $5,510,000 for security updates for Hoapili Hale on Maui; and

 

          (C)  $4,240,000 for roof repairs to the Kauai judiciary complex.

 

     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 H.B. No. 510, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 510, H.D. 2, 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