HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
                 THE TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE
                  REGULAR SESSION OF 1999

         COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY & HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS
                Rep. Paul T. Oshiro, Chair
              Rep. Eric Hamakawa, Vice Chair

  Rep. Romy Cachola             Rep. Jerry Chang
  Rep. Nestor Garcia            Rep. Kenneth Hiraki
  Rep. Sol Kahoohalahala        Rep. Marilyn Lee
  Rep. Hermina Morita           Rep. Roy Takumi
  Rep. Terry Nui Yoshinaga      Rep. Cynthia Thielen
  Rep. David Pendleton          Rep. Emily Auwae
  Rep. Paul Whalen

                     NOTICE OF HEARING

        DATE:    Tuesday, January 26, 1999

        TIME:    2:00 P.M.

        PLACE:   Conference Room 325, State Capitol


                        A G E N D A

HB 20      RELATING TO THE JUDICIARY                      JHA,FIN
        Increases judicial salaries. 

HB 163     RELATING TO JURORS                             JHA,FIN
        Increases the fee for jury duty service from $30 to
        $40 per day.  Increases the mileage fee for jury duty
        service from 33 cents to 37 cents per mile.
        Appropriates funds.

HB 83      RELATING TO COURTS                                 JHA
        Repeals the exemption from jury service for attorneys,
        heads of executive departments, elected officials,
        judges, ministers or priests, practicing physicians or
        dentists, and active members of the armed forces,
        police, and fire department.

HB 177     RELATING TO HARASSMENT                             JHA
        Clarifies the basis for granting a temporary
        restraining order.  Increases the duration of a
        temporary restraining order.



 
 
HB 71      RELATING TO ELECTIONS                          JHA,FIN
        Amends campaign spending and disclosure laws to
        encompass contributions with regard to ballot issues.
        Provides that organizations that raise or expend funds
        for purposes of informational and educational
        advertising are not "committees" subject to campaign
        contribution and expenditure laws.  Limits
        contributions by a candidate's immediate family to
        $50,000.  Amends the dates on which preliminary
        reports must be filed with the commission.  Repeals
        short form reporting.  Exempts violators of campaign
        contribution and expenditure laws from administrative
        fines and criminal prosecution upon payment of
        penalties imposed by the commission.

HB 72      RELATING TO ELECTIONS                          JHA,FIN
        Provides that candidates who voluntarily agree to
        limit campaign expenditures and become eligible for
        matching funds must do so at or before the time of
        filing nomination papers and may not thereafter
        withdraw their agreement.  Allows unopposed candidates
        to apply for matching funds.  Extends the time within
        contributors must be notified that a candidate has
        exceeded expenditure limits to 30 days.  Allows
        candidates who have exceeded spending limitations by
        no more than 1% to return 25% of, as opposed to all
        matching funds.  Reduces the time that qualifying
        campaign contribution statements must be filed with
        the commission from 60 to 30 days.

HB 166     RELATING TO ELECTIONS                          JHA,FIN
        Requires reporting in addition to any other reports
        required by law, of campaign contributions aggregating
        in excess of $500, made or received within the period
        of 15 calendar days through 3 calendar days prior to
        an election.

HB 165     RELATING TO ELECTIONS                              JHA
        Amends the definition of contribution to include gifts
        to committees.  Provides that political parties shall
        be subject to the same contribution limits applicable
        to persons and other entities.  Reduces the amount of
        contributions that may be made to a political party in
        any two year election period from $50,000 to $6,000.



 
 
 
 
 
 
 
HB 164     PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE III, SECTION 6,  JHA
        OF THE HAWAII CONSTITUTION TO CHANGE THE 
        ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR MEMBERSHIP IN THE 
        SENATE OR HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
        Proposes an amendment to Article III, section 6, of
        the State Constitution to require that, prior to
        filing nomination papers for the primary election, a
        candidate for state legislative office shall be a
        qualified voter in the district that the candidate
        seeks to represent.

HB 160     RELATING TO STATE AND COUNTY IMMUNITY FROM         JHA
        LIABILITY
        Extends the sunset date for state and county immunity
        from liability at public beach parks. 

HB 67      RELATING TO CIVIL JUSTICE REFORM                   JHA
        Limits recovery for all noneconomic damages in tort
        actions to $500,000.  Codifies court rule relating to
        offers of jugdement.  Requires payment of reasonable
        attorneys' fees and court costs to encourage pre-trial
        settlements.  Limits punitive damages awards.

HB 66      RELATING TO JOINT AND SEVERAL LIABILITY            JHA
        Changes the degree of negligence for which a joint
        tortfeasor will become subject to the imposition of
        joint and several liability.

                 DECISION MAKING TO FOLLOW

PERSONS WISHING TO TESTIFY ARE REQUESTED TO SUBMIT 40 COPIES OF
THEIR TESTIMONY 24 HOURS PRIOR TO THE HEARING TO:  (1)  THE
COMMITTEE'S VICE CHAIR IN ROOM 332, STATE CAPITOL; OR (2)  THE
HOUSE SGT.-AT-ARMS PERSONNEL IN THE TURNAROUND AREA OF THE
CAPITOL BASEMENT PARKING LOT.  TESTIMONY MAY BE FAXED TO THE
HOUSE SGT.-AT-ARMS OFFICE AT:  586-6501 (OAHU) OR 1-800-535-3859
(NEIGHBOR ISLANDS).  WHEN FAXING, PLEASE INDICATE TO WHOM THE
TESTIMONY IS BEING SUBMITTED, THE DATE AND TIME OF THE HEARING,
AND THE REQUIRED NO. OF COPIES THAT IS NEEDED FOR SUBMITTAL.

IT IS ALSO REQUESTED THAT THE COPIES BE ON ONE SIDE OF AN 8-1/2"
X 11" SHEET.  FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL THE HOUSE
JUDICIARY & HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE CLERK AT 586-6360.
IF YOU REQUIRE SPECIAL ASSISTANCE OR AUXILIARY AIDS AND/OR
SERVICES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PUBLIC HEARING PROCESS OF THE
STATE HOUSE (I.E., SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETER, WHEELCHAIR
ACCESSIBILITY, OR PARKING DESIGNATED FOR THE DISABLED), PLEASE
CONTACT THE COMMITTEE CLERK 24 HOURS PRIOR TO THE HEARING SO
ARRANGEMENTS CAN BE MADE.

                               _______________________________
                               Rep. Paul T. Oshiro
                               Chair