STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1971

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.C.R. No. 88

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 88 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE JUDICIARY TO PREPARE A MASTER DEVELOPMENT PLAN, INCLUDING A CAPITOL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT REQUEST, TO UPGRADE THE SOUTH KOHALA DISTRICT COURT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Judiciary to prepare a master development plan for the South Kohala District Court complex, including a capitol improvement project request, to upgrade the South Kohala District Court.

Your Committee received no testimony on this measure.

Your Committee finds that Waimea needs a bigger district court complex, a District Court Judge, and Circuit Court Judge to serve the large geographical area and its growing population. The current complex does not have adequate seating capacity, and people often must wait outside; some days as many as fifty individuals are forced to wait outside. This serious lack of judiciary facilities in South Kohala can only be remedied by an objective evaluation of the demand for these facilities and a determination of how these needs can be met. This evaluation and analysis would provide the necessary information to prepare a master development plan to upgrade the South Kohala District Court complex. This measure will encourage the Judiciary to prepare a plan to resolve the problems related to the lack of space for court staff and users, courthouse security improvements, and access.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 88, and recommends its adoption.

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

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KARL RHOADS, Chair