CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 13-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: S.B. No. 2927

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sirs:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 2927, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE VI, SECTION 3 OF THE HAWAII CONSTITUTION TO MAKE THE SENATE CONFIRMATION PROCESS FOR JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS MORE UNIFORM,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to propose amendments to the Hawaii State Constitution to make the appointment and Senate consent procedure for District Court judges the same as those for Supreme Court justices and Intermediate Court of Appeals and Circuit Court judges.

Your Committee on Conference finds that the existing Senate confirmation process for judicial appointments differs if the appointment is made by the Governor or the Chief Justice. Additionally, due to the Legislature being a part-time legislature, the Senate must convene special sessions throughout the year for the sole purpose of consenting to District Court appointments. This measure will reduce confusion, promote government efficiency, and provide clarity for the judicial appointment process by making the Senate confirmation process for judicial appointments the same, regardless of whether the appointment is made by the Governor or the Chief Justice.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to upon compliance with article XVII, section 3, of the Hawaii State Constitution; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2927, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2927, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ DAVID A. TARNAS Co-Chair	____________________________ KARL RHOADS Chair
____________________________ SCOTT Y. NISHIMOTO Co-Chair	____________________________ HENRY J.C. AQUINO Co-Chair