STAND. COM. REP. NO. 456-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 1954

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1954, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH COURT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to permanently establish and appropriate funds for the Community Outreach Court as a division of the District Court of the First Circuit.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Judiciary; Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness; Department of Human Services; Department of Law Enforcement; Office of the Public Defender; Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu; Partners In Care; NAMI Hawaii; ACLU of Hawaiʻi; and Opportunity Youth Action Hawaiʻi.

Your Committee finds that over the course of six years, the Community Outreach Court has held several court sessions across Oahu. Through these sessions, the Community Outreach Court has addressed more than ten thousand cases, recalled more than nine hundred bench warrants, lifted more than six thousand driver license stoppers, and assisted more than six hundred participants with social services or referrals. This measure would further support the Community Outreach Court and provide much needed resources and funding to assist the Court's clients and operations.

Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider an appropriation amount of:

(1) $854,900 to the Judiciary to establish permanent positions in support of the Community Outreach Court, including:

(A) $96,100 each for four full-time equivalent (4.0 FTE) court clerk positions;

(B) $72,500 for one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) court bailiff position;

(C) $81,500 for one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) adult client services branch judicial clerk V position; and

(D) $105,500 each for three full-time equivalent (3.0 FTE) adult client services positions;

(2) $250,000 to the Department of Law Enforcement for two full-time equivalent (2.0 FTE) deputy sheriff positions to support the Community Outreach Court;

(3) $288,500 to the Office of the Public Defender for permanent positions in support of the Community Outreach Court, including:

(A) $131,000 for one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) deputy public defender;

(B) $87,500 for one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) paralegal; and

(C) $70,000 for one full-time equivalent (1.0) FTE) social worker or mental health worker, assigned to the Office of the Public Defender;

(4) $310,000 to the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu for permanent positions in support of the Community Outreach Court, including:

(A) $170,000 for one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) deputy prosecuting attorney;

(B) $80,000 for one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) paralegal; and

(C) $60,000 for one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) legal assistant; and

(5) $40,000 to the Judiciary for the operations of the Community Outreach Court, including security, equipment, training, and other operational needs.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1954, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair