Bill Text: HI HB1608 | 2024 | Regular Session | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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

Spectrum: Strong Partisan Bill (Democrat 16-1)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2024-03-21 - Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM. [HB1608 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2024-HB1608-Introduced.html

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1608
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024
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 fund four deputy public defender positions and require that one deputy public defender be assigned to the family court section.

     SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $303,720 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 for four full-time equivalent (4.0 FTE) deputy public defender positions within the office of the public defender (BUF151); provided that one deputy public defender shall be assigned 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 3.  In accordance with section 9 of article VII, of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii and sections 37-91 and 37-93, Hawaii Revised Statutes, the legislature has determined that the appropriation contained in this Act will cause the state general fund expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2024-2025 to be exceeded by $          , or       per cent.  The reasons for exceeding the general fund expenditure ceiling are that the appropriation made in this Act is necessary to serve the public interest and to meet the needs provided for by this Act.

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

 

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

 

 

Report Title:

Office of the Public Defender; Appropriation

 

Description:

Appropriates moneys for 4.0 FTE deputy public defender positions within the Office of the Public Defender (BUF151) and requires that one of the positions be assigned to the family court section.

 

 

 

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