STAND. COM. REP. NO. 352

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                

 

RE:    S.B. No. 221

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 221, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF THE PROSECUTING ATTORNEY OF THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate moneys as a grant-in-aid to the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu for the victim witness assistance program, known as the Victim Witness Kokua Services Unit.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of the Attorney General, Office of the Prosecuting Attorney of the County of Hawaii, and Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu.

 

     Your Committee finds that the Victim Witness Kokua Services Unit assists in guiding victims, witnesses, and surviving family members through the criminal justice system before, during, and after the prosecution of criminal cases.  Your Committee believes that this measure will help provide funding that is necessary to ensure the continuance of these vital services.

 

     Your Committee notes that the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu has requested $736,785 for fiscal year 2023-2024 for the Victim Witness Kokua Services Unit.

 

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

 

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

 

 

 

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair