STAND. COM. REP. NO. 541-20

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2020

RE: H.B. No. 2656

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 2656, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ACCESS TO JUSTICE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish the Hawaii Justice League Program in the University of Hawaii at Manoa William S. Richardson School of Law to provide partial student loan repayment assistance for lawyers who agree to practice law in underserved rural areas in the State.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the William S. Richardson School of Law, SanHi, and three individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance and Domestic Violence Action Center.

Your Committee finds that few new lawyers are able to practice public interest law in underserved rural areas because of the high cost of attending law school and living in Hawaii. Your Committee further finds that loan repayment assistance programs have been successfully used in the State to increase the number of educators in hard-to-fill teaching positions. This measure will establish a partial loan repayment assistance program that will encourage and enable lawyers to practice law in underserved rural areas in the State.

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 H.B. No. 2656, 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,

____________________________

CHRIS LEE, Chair