Bill Text: HI SB2521 | 2024 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Relating To The Office Of The Public Defender.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2024-02-08 - Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM. [SB2521 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2024-SB2521-Amended.html

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THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2521
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO THE OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDER.

 

 

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

 

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the office of the public defender provides necessary legal representation to indigent individuals in criminal, involuntary commitment, and family law cases as required by the United States and Hawaii Constitutions, state statutes, and judicial opinions.  The legislature further finds that Act 9, Session Laws of Hawaii 2020, defunded six positions in the office of the public defender, and the positions were later abolished.

     The purpose of this Act is to:

     (1)  Fund four deputy public defender III positions; and

     (2)  Require the office of the public defender to assign one deputy public defender II to the family court section.

     SECTION 2.  In accordance with section 9 of article VII of the Hawaii State Constitution and sections 37-91 and 37-93, Hawaii Revised Statutes, the legislature has determined that the appropriations contained in Act 164, Regular Session of 2023, and this Act will cause the state general fund expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2024-2025 to be exceeded by $           or       per cent.  This current declaration takes into account general fund appropriations authorized for fiscal year 2024-2025 in Act 164, Regular Session of 2023, and this Act only.  The reasons for exceeding the general fund expenditure ceiling are that:

     (1)  The appropriation made in this Act is necessary to serve the public interest; and

     (2)  The appropriation made in this Act meets the needs addressed by this Act.

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $627,300 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 for four full-time equivalent (4.0 FTE) deputy public defender III positions within the office of the public defender (BUF151); provided that the office of the public defender shall assign one deputy public defender II to the family court section.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the office of the public defender for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2024.

 

 

Report Title:

Office of the Public Defender; Expenditure Ceiling; Appropriation

 

Description:

Appropriates moneys for 4.0 FTE deputy public defender III positions within the Office of the Public Defender (BUF151).  Requires the Office of the Public Defender to assign one deputy public defender II to the family court section.  Declares that the general fund expenditure ceiling is exceeded.  (SD1)

 

 

 

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