STAND. COM. REP. NO. 996

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 158

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs and Judiciary and Labor, 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,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds as a grant-in-aid to the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the County of Maui for the prosecution of cases in Drug Court and Mental Health Courts, including the hiring of necessary staff.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu, Office of the Prosecuting Attorney of the County of Kauai, Office of the Prosecuting Attorney of the County of Hawaii, Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the County of Maui, and Police Department of the County of Maui.

     Your Committees find that the Drug Court and Mental Health Court programs help offenders turn their lives around and receive appropriate treatment and cost the State significantly less money per day compared to incarceration.  Implementation of this measure decreases criminal activity and provides the necessary resources to assist offenders in receiving appropriate guidance and treatment.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs and Judiciary and Labor that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 158, and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs and Judiciary and Labor,

________________________________ GILBERT S.C. KEITH-AGARAN, Chair

________________________________ WILL ESPERO, Chair