STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2483

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2927

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2927 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,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to increase clarity and uniformity in the judicial appointment process.

Specifically, this measure proposes an amendment to the Hawaii State Constitution to make the Senate confirmation process for judicial appointments made by the Governor or the Chief Justice the same.

Your Committee did not receive written comments on this measure.

Your Committee finds that Senate confirmation procedures for judicial appointments differ depending on whether an appointment is made by the Governor or the Chief Justice. Your Committee further finds that harmonizing these differing confirmation procedures will reduce confusion and increase clarity in the judicial appointment process.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making a technical nonsubstantive amendment for the purpose of style.

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

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair