STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1400-00

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 2000

                                 RE: S.B. No. 2935
                                     S.D. 1
                                     H.D. 2




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 S.B. No.
2935, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, 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 crime associated with the use of methamphetamines by:

     (1)  Repealing the mandatory minimum terms of imprisonment
          for drug offenses in the second and third degrees
          involving the possession or distribution of
          methamphetamine; and

     (2)  Requiring that persons convicted of methamphetamine
          offenses in the second and third degrees who are
          sentenced to probation shall participate in drug
          treatment or education programs and pay for their
          participation in the program to the extent of their
          financial ability.

     The Department of Public Safety and the Community Alliance
on Prisons testified in support of this measure.  The City and
County Police Department and the City and County Department of
the Prosecuting Attorney opposed passage of this bill.  The
Judiciary offered comments.


 
 
 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1400-00
                                 Page 2

 
     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Retaining the mandatory minimum terms of imprisonment
          for drug offenses in the second degree involving the
          possession or distribution of methamphetamine;

     (2)  Requiring persons on probation for an offense involving
          only the possession of methamphetamine, and not its
          distribution, to participate in a drug treatment or
          education program; and

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the
          purpose of consistency.

     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 S.B. No.
2935, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it
pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2935,
S.D. 1, H.D. 2.

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



                                   ______________________________
                                   DWIGHT Y. TAKAMINE, Chair