Representative Jon Riki Karamatsu
House Journal Written Remarks
May 5, 2009 – Day 61
Conf. Comm. Rep. No. 166
H.B. No. 300, H.D. 1, S.D. 2, C.D. 1
Relating to the Judiciary
When the House passed the Judiciary budget to the Senate, the House reduced the budget by $28,065,985 in the first fiscal year (2009-2010) and $28,065,985 in the second fiscal year (2010-2011). The proposed Judiciary Budget by the House was $124,232,511 in the first fiscal year (2009-2010) and $124,232,511 in the second fiscal year (2010-2011). The House also eliminated 114 vacancy positions.
In contrast, the Senate draft reduced the Judiciary budget by $8,408,626 in the first fiscal year (2009-2010) and $8,408,626 in the second fiscal year (2010-2011). The proposed Judiciary budget by the Senate was $143,889,870 in the first fiscal year (2009-2010) and $143,889,870 in the second fiscal year (2010-2011). The Senate did not eliminate any vacancy positions.
In conference, after negotiations between the House and the Senate, we agreed to reduce the Judiciary budget by $11,000,000 and eliminated 79 vacancy positions. As a result, the Judiciary budget has become $141,298,496 in the first fiscal year (2009-2010) and $141,298,496 in the second fiscal year (2010-2011). We restored all the initial cuts to the purchase of service agreements, which funded many of our important non-profit corporation legal services. The capital improvement projects for the Judiciary budget included: $230,000 for plans and design for a new administrative services office building for the Kapolei Judiciary Complex; $3,995,000 for design and construction for upgrade and modernization of the elevators at Kauikeaouli Hale on Oahu; $550,000 for plans and land acquisition for a new Judiciary Complex for Kona; and $5,000,000 for plans, design, construction, and equipment for the remodeling and upgrading of Judiciary buildings statewide for fiscal biennium 2009-2011. Thank you.
JON RIKI KARAMATSU 