STAND. COM. REP. NO. 469-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 2289

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 2289 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE EXPENDITURE CEILING ON THE AUTOMATED VICTIM INFORMATION AND NOTIFICATION SYSTEM SPECIAL FUND,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to repeal the $600,000 annual expenditure ceiling on the Automated Victim Information and Notification System Special Fund to address rising program costs and growing victim service demands.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation; Crime Victim Compensation Commission; Hawaii Paroling Authority; Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women; Office of the Prosecuting Attorney of the County of Hawaiʻi; Maui Police Department; and one individual. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that the Automated Victim Information and Notification System plays a critical role in protecting the safety and rights of crime victims by providing timely and reliable notifications regarding changes in offender custody status. Your Committee further finds that the existing statutory expenditure ceiling on the Automated Victim Information and Notification System Special Fund no longer reflects current operational costs or increased demand for victim notification services, and that removing the cap will allow the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to maintain staffing levels, cover rising contractual and operating expenses, and ensure uninterrupted statewide services for victims.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2289, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2289, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair