STAND. COM. REP. NO. 714-00

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 2000

                                 RE: H.B. No. 2594
                                     H.D. 1




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No.
2594 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DANGEROUS DRUGS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to counter increased property
and violent crimes associated with the use of methamphetamine by
providing the courts with sentencing alternatives.

     This bill:

     (1)  Repeals mandatory terms of imprisonment for:

          (A)  Promotion of dangerous drugs in the second degree,
               for persons convicted of possession of specified
               amounts or distribution of any amount of
               methamphetamine; and

          (B)  Promotion of a dangerous drug in the third degree,
               for possession of any amount of methamphetamine;

          and

     (2)  Requires persons convicted of second or third degree
          promotion of a dangerous drug who are sentenced to
          probation to pay for and participate in an appropriate
          drug treatment or education program.


 
 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 714-00
                                 Page 2

 
     The Department of Public Safety and ACLU of Hawaii testified
in support of this measure.  The Department of the Prosecuting
Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu and the Honolulu
Police Department testified in opposition to this measure.  The
Judiciary submitted comments on this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by making technical,
nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of consistency and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your
Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No.
2594, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third
Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2594, H.D. 1.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Finance,



                                   ______________________________
                                   DWIGHT Y. TAKAMINE, Chair