SB 287: MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE VICTIM WITNESS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
- Session Year: 2025-2026
- House: Senate
- Latest Version Date: 2025-02-07
Current Status:
Failed
(2025-12-08: Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.)
Introduced
In Committee
First Chamber
In Committee
Second Chamber
Final Decking
Enacted
Appropriates funds 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. Effective 4/23/2057. (SD1)
Appropriates moneys as a grant-in-aid to the City and County of Honolulu Department of the Prosecuting Attorney for the Victim Witness Assistance Program.
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
287 |
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THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 |
S.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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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. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 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 2. This Act shall take effect on April 23, 2057.
Report Title:
City and County of Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney Package; Victim Witness Assistance Program; Appropriation; GIA
Description:
Appropriates funds 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. Effective 4/23/2057. (SD1)
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
287 |
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THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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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. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $736,785 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 as a grant-in-aid to the city and county of Honolulu department of the prosecuting attorney for the victim witness assistance program, including the hiring of necessary staff.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the city and county of Honolulu department of the prosecuting attorney for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 2. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
_____________________________ |
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By Request |
Report Title:
City and County of Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney Package; Victim Witness Assistance Program; Appropriation; GIA
Description:
Appropriates moneys as a grant-in-aid to the City and County of Honolulu Department of the Prosecuting Attorney 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.
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Date
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Status
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| Dec 8, 2025 | Carried over to 2026 Regular Session. |
| Feb 10, 2025 | Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM. |
| Feb 10, 2025 | Reported from JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 194) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM. |
| Jan 30, 2025 | The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in JDC were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Chang, San Buenaventura; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Awa. |
| Jan 27, 2025 | The committee(s) on JDC has scheduled a public hearing on 01-30-25 9:15AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference. |
| Jan 21, 2025 | Referred to JDC, WAM. |
| Jan 15, 2025 | Introduced and passed First Reading. |
| Jan 14, 2025 | Pending Introduction. |
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Date
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Description
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Location
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Votes
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| Jan 30, 2025 | The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS | Senate Standing Committee on Judiciary |
Passed |
This list shows positions taken on this bill by organizations on the date displayed, which is linked to the original source.
Positions by individuals are not included.
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Organization
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Position
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| Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu | ** Support |
STAND. COM. REP. NO. 194
Honolulu, Hawaii
RE: S.B. No. 287
S.D. 1
Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi
President of the Senate
Thirty-Third State Legislature
Regular Session of 2025
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 287 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 funds as a grant-in-aid to the City and County of Honolulu Department of the Prosecuting Attorney 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, one member of the Kauaʻi County Council, and one individual.
Your Committee finds that the Victim Witness Kokua Services Unit assists in guiding victims, witnesses, and surviving family members through the criminal justice system before, during, and after the criminal prosecution of a case and is specifically trained and qualified to do so. Your Committee further finds that the Legislature enacted Act 204, Session Laws of Hawaii 1986 (Act 204), which established the Victim Witness Assistance Program to provide information, assistance, and support services to the victims of and witnesses to crimes committed in the State. Although Act 204 established the Victim Witness Assistance Program to be administered by the Department of the Attorney General, direct services are provided by the each county's office or department of the prosecuting attorney. This measure will provide the funding necessary for the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu's Victim Witness Assistance Program to maintain the Program's current level of vital services.
Your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Changing the appropriation to an unspecified amount;
(2) Inserting an effective date of April 23, 2057, to encourage further discussion; and
(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.
Your Committee notes that this measure, as amended, contains an unspecified appropriation amount. Should your Committee on Ways and Means choose to deliberate on this measure, your Committee respectfully requests that it consider inserting an appropriation amount of $736,785 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.
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. 287, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 287, 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,
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________________________________ KARL RHOADS, Chair |
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Date
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Testimony PDF
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| Jan 29, 2025 | SB287_TESTIMONY_JDC_01-30-25_.PDF |
Bill Author
Bill Co-Author(s):