STAND. COM. REP. NO. 315

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 1999

                                   RE:  S.B. No. 650
                                        S.D. 1




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which
was referred S.B. No. 650 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HARASSMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to deter and penalize the use
of electronic media to harass others.

     Testimony in support of this measure was presented by an
individual.  Another individual, though not present at the
hearing, submitted written testimony in support of the measure.

     Your Committee finds that the growth of the Internet and
online services has led to an increase in electronic
communication.  Consumers use electronic mail as a primary form
of communication and as an alternative to telephonic or written
communication.  People also meet and conference through online
chat rooms.

     Your Committee further finds, however, that some individuals
are abusing electronic communication by using it to commit
threatening and harassing acts against others, including the
sending of harassing e-mail and the posting of derogatory
messages.  Current laws relating to non-legitimate communication
by electronic mail are inadequate to address this problem.  This
measure would strengthen the law by making the use of
computerized communication systems to frighten, intimidate,
threaten, abuse, or harass another person a misdemeanor and

 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 315
                                   Page 2


authorizing the forfeiture of property belonging to the offending
party.

     Technical, nonsubstantive amendments were made to this
measure for purposes of style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection that is attached to
this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and
purpose of S.B. No. 650, as amended herein, and recommends that
it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B.
No. 650, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Commerce and
                                   Consumer Protection,



                                   ______________________________
                                   BRIAN KANNO, Co-Chair



                                   ______________________________
                                   BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Co-Chair

 
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