HRS 0712A- ANNOTATIONS

Repeal of chapter on July 1, 1996, by L 1993, c 196, §1, deleted by L 1996, c 104, §6.

L 2001, c 91, §4 purports to amend this chapter.

Act 104, Session Laws 1996, repealed the sunset provision of the Hawaii omnibus criminal forfeiture act to make the law permanent. The legislature found that forfeitures served a public purpose of removing assets that facilitated or were derived from illegal activity, and that the forfeited assets or their proceeds were being used for, inter alia, administering the forfeiture program and training and educating law enforcement personnel. The legislature also found that forfeitures served as an "immediate deterrent" against future illegal activity involving the forfeited assets or precluded further enjoyment of the forfeited assets. The legislature believed that the criminal forfeiture law was being appropriately applied to aid in the war against drugs. Senate Standing Committee Report No. 2731, House Standing Committee Report No. 409-96.

Hawaii legislature intended administrative forfeitures and judicial in rem forfeiture proceedings under this chapter to be civil proceedings. 83 H. 141, 925 P.2d 311.