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COUNTY OF HAWAII' /.• STATE OF HAWAII
RESOLUTION NO. 298 1°4
A RESOLUTION URGING THE HAWAII STATE LEGISLATURE TO PASS SENATE
BILL NO. 879, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, TO INCREASE THE PER DIEM STIPEND FOR
WITNESSES IN CRIMINAL CASES.
WHEREAS, Hawai`i Revised Statutes, Section 621-7, sets the stipend for out-of-state
witnesses who are legally required to attend a State court or grand jury in any criminal case at
$110 per day in addition to the cost for plane travel; and
WHEREAS, the $110 stipend has not been increased since 1989; and
WHEREAS, the stipend is no longer sufficient to cover the personal expenses of out-of-
state witnesses, such as lodging and food, causing them to use their own funds to cover expenses;
and
WHEREAS, the per diem stipend for witnesses who are required to travel to a different
island is also insufficient to cover expenses when the witness is required to stay overnight; and
WHEREAS, the lack of a cost-of-living adjustment in the stipend has resulted in
witnesses in domestic violence situations and other criminal cases declining to pursue charges
against offenders for economic reasons; and
WHEREAS, Senate Bill No. 879, introduced in the 2013 regular session of the Hawai`i
State Legislature, addresses these concerns by providing for an increase in the per diem stipend
for the personal expenses of witnesses who are out-of-state or who have to stay overnight on
another island; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Budget and Finance estimates the cost of the increase in
per diem stipends to be $21,000 per year; and
WHEREAS, the Hawai`i State Senate approved Senate Bill No. 879, S.D. 1, on March 5,
2013, by a unanimous vote of 25 ayes; and
WHEREAS, the Hawai`i State House approved Senate Bill No. 879, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, on
April 9, 2013, by a unanimous vote of 51 ayes; and
WHEREAS, despite unanimous support in the Legislature for increasing the per diem
stipend, conference committee members could not reach an agreement on the amendments
during the 2013 legislative session; and
WHEREAS, additional delays in the passage of Senate Bill No. 879, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, may
result in the denial of justice for crime victims in the State of Hawai`i; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII that the
Hawaii State Legislature is urged to approve an increase in the per diem stipend for witnesses in
criminal cases, as provided in Senate Bill No. 879, S.D. 1, H.D. 2.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the House and Senate conferees are urged to reach
an agreement on Senate Bill No. 879, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, as soon as possible.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Governor is urged to sign Senate Bill No. 879,
S.D. 1, H.D. 2, into law.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the County Clerk shall transmit a copy of this
resolution to the Honorable Governor Neil Abercrombie; the Honorable Senate President Donna
Mercado Kim; the Honorable Senate Vice President Ronald D. Kouchi; the Honorable Senator
David Y. Ige; the Honorable Senator Clayton Hee; the Honorable Senator Gilbert Kahele; the
Honorable House Speaker Joseph M. Souki; the Honorable Senator Maile S.L. Shimabukuro; the
Honorable Senator Sam Slom; the Honorable Representative Sylvia Luke; the Honorable
Representative Karl Rhoads; the Honorable Representative Ty J.K. Cullen; the Honorable
Representative Derek S.K. Kawakami; and the Honorable Representative Cynthia Thielen.
Dated at Kona , Hawai`i, this 19th day of February , 2014
INTRODUCED BY:
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COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNTY OF HAWAII
COUNTY COUNCIL ROLL CALL VOTE
County of Hawai`i AYES NOES ABS EX
Hilo, Hawai`i EOFF x
FORD X
I hereby certify that the foregoing RESOLUTION was by ILAGAN X
the vote indicated to the right hereof adopted by the COUNCIL of the KANUHA
County of Hawaii on February 19, 2014 X
KERN X
ONISHI X
ATTEST: POINDEXTER X
WILLE X
YOSHIMOTO X
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9 0 0 0
OFr_ --t/ Reference: C-663/Waived GREDC
COUNTY CLERK CHAIRPERSON &PRESIDING OFFICER RESOLUTION NO. 298 14
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