STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1479

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 158

       S.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 158 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING APPROPRIATIONS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF THE PROSECUTING ATTORNEY OF THE COUNTY OF MAUI,"

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 County of Maui for the prosecution of cases under the Drug Court and Mental Health Court programs.   

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

     Your Committee finds that the Drug Court program is an efficient use of state resources and decreases criminal activity in the State's communities.  Your Committee also finds that the Mental Health Court program plays a key role in ensuring that offenders receive appropriate treatment and proper sentencing.  Your Committee further finds that the funding is essential for Maui prosecutors and will ensure that the Drug Court and Mental Health Court programs continue to make a positive impact on the citizens of Maui. 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion.

     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 H.B. No. 158, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 158, S.D. 1.

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

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair