SB 2251: Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney Package; Victim Witness Assistance Program; VOCA; GIA; Report; Appropriation

A BILL FOR AN ACT

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE VICTIM WITNESS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the department of the prosecuting attorney of the city and county of Honolulu receives federal funding from the Victims of Crime Act to support the victim witness assistance program.  Over the last several years, there has been a steady decline in these federal Victims of Crime Act funds.  Victims of Crime Act is funded through the crime victims fund, which receives its funding from criminal fines and forfeitures, rather than taxpayer dollars.

     The legislature further finds that the decline in Victims of Crime Act funding is primarily due to a decrease in revenue collected from fines and penalties imposed on federal offenders.  This funding supports the salaries of the victim witness counselors who serve a pivotal role in court cases and support victims of crimes as their cases move through the criminal justice system.

     The legislature also finds that in the upcoming fiscal year 2026-2027, the department of the prosecuting attorney of the city and county of Honolulu will see the most drastic cut to its Victims of Crime Act funds since its inception, declining by forty per cent.  As a result, the department requires additional state funding in the amount of $500,000 for fiscal year 2026‑2027 to maintain a complete level of service for the victim witness assistance program to serve victims of crime in the county.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to:

     (1)  Require the department of the prosecuting attorney of the city and county of Honolulu to submit a report to the legislature describing the implementation and allocation of funds for the victim witness assistance program; and

     (2)  Appropriate moneys to the department of the prosecuting attorney of the city and county of Honolulu to fill the gap in federal funding with state funds.

     SECTION 2.  (a)  The department of the prosecuting attorney of the city and county of Honolulu shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2027 describing the implementation and allocation of funds for the victim-witness assistance program. The report shall include, at minimum:

     (1)  A description of implementation steps taken during the reporting period, including any rules, policies, training, interagency coordination, and public outreach;

     (2)  Staffing and capacity information, including the number of victim-witness counselor positions authorized, filled, and vacant; hiring and separation activity during the reporting period; and average caseload per full-time equivalent victim-witness counselor position;

     (3)  Service delivery information, including:

          (A)  The number of victims served, including new intakes and ongoing cases;

          (B)  Types of services provided, which may include crisis response contacts, safety planning, court accompaniment, victim notification, restitution assistance, and referrals to community-based services; and

          (C)  Any barriers to service delivery, including staffing limitations, training needs, administrative requirements, and information technology constraints, and actions taken to address these barriers;

     (4)  Timeliness and access measures, including the average time from referral or intake to initial contact with a victim, the extent to which victim-witness support was available for court proceedings when requested or otherwise required; and

     (5)  Language access and accessibility information, including languages requested and served, the use of interpretation or translation services, and any unmet language or accessibility needs identified during the reporting period.

     (b)  The report required under subsection (a) shall:

     (1)  Present data in an aggregated form and shall not include any personally identifying information, confidential information, or information otherwise protected from disclosure by law; and

     (2)  Describe the methodology used and any material limitations on data quality or verification.

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $500,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 as a grant-in-aid to the department of the prosecuting attorney of the city and county of Honolulu for the victim witness assistance program, including the hiring of necessary staff.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of the prosecuting attorney of the city and county of Honolulu for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.

Report Title:

Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney Package; Victim Witness Assistance Program; VOCA; GIA; Report; Appropriation

Description:

Requires the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu to submit a report to the Legislature.  Appropriates grant-in-aid moneys to the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu for the Victim Witness Assistance Program.  (SD1)

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

Making an Appropriation for the Victim Witness Assistance Program.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the department of the prosecuting attorney of the city and county of Honolulu receives federal funding from the Victims of Crime Act to support the victim witness assistance program.  Over the last several years, there has been a steady decline in these federal Victims of Crime Act funds.  Victims of Crime Act is funded through the crime victims fund, which receives its funding from criminal fines and forfeitures, rather than taxpayer dollars.

     The legislature further finds that the decline in Victims of Crime Act funding is primarily due to a decrease in revenue collected from fines and penalties imposed on federal offenders.  This funding supports the salaries of the victim witness counselors who serve a pivotal role in court cases and support victims of crimes as their cases move through the criminal justice system.

     The legislature also finds that in the upcoming fiscal year 2026-2027, the department of the prosecuting attorney of the city and county of Honolulu will see the most drastic cut to its Victims of Crime Act funds since its inception, declining by forty per cent.  As a result, the department requires additional state funding in the amount of $500,000 for fiscal year 2026‑2027 to maintain a complete level of service for the victim witness assistance program to serve victims of crime in the county.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to appropriate moneys to the department of the prosecuting attorney of the city and county of Honolulu to fill the gap in federal funding with state funds.

     SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $500,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 as a grant-in-aid to the department of the prosecuting attorney of the city and county of Honolulu for the victim witness assistance program, including the hiring of necessary staff.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of the prosecuting attorney of the city and county of Honolulu for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.

Report Title:

Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney Package; Victim Witness Assistance Program; VOCA; GIA; Appropriation

Description:

Appropriates grant-in-aid moneys to the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu for the Victim Witness Assistance Program.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2285

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:     S.B. No. 2251

        S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 2251 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE VICTIM WITNESS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate grant-in-aid moneys to the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu for the Victim Witness Assistance Program.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu, Kapalama Neighborhood Security Watch, and one individual.

Your Committee finds that over the years, federal funding from the Victims of Crime Act, which supports the Victim-Witness Assistance Program of the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu, has steadily declined.  This funding also supports the salaries of victim-witness counselors who serve a pivotal role in courses and support victims of crimes while their cases move through the criminal justice system.  In the upcoming fiscal year, the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu will experience a significant cut to Victims of Crime Act funds, damaging the Department's capacity to provide complete services to victim‑witnesses.  This measure will bridge the federal funding gap and allow the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu to maintain a complete level of service for the Victim-Witness Assistance Program.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Inserting language to require the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu to submit a report to the Legislature describing the implementation and allocation of funds for the Victim‑Witness Assistance Program;

     (2)  Amending section 1 to reflect its amended purpose; and

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

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2251, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2251, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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