STAND. COM. REP. NO. 90

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 130

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 130 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CIVIL LEGAL SERVICES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds for the Judiciary to purchase civil legal services for low and moderate income persons.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Judiciary, Department of Human Services, Volunteer Legal Services Hawaii, Domestic Violence Action Center, Legal Aid Society of Hawai‘i, and seven individuals.

Your Committee finds that legal services are often prohibitively expensive for low and moderate income persons. Your Committee further finds that a number of non-profit and volunteer organizations exist to provide quality legal services to persons who require services but lack the resources to pay for them. Your Committee additionally finds that, although these organizations generally function on a volunteer basis, they still require funding for operating costs and other expenses. This measure will support these organizations by providing legal services to those in need.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 130 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,

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KARL RHOADS, Chair