STAND. COM. REP. NO. 631

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 1999

                                   RE:  S.B. No. 605
                                        S.D. 1




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

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B.
No. 605, S.D. 1, entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CIVIL RIGHTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to establish a civil cause of
action and enhanced criminal penalties for hate or bias motivated
acts against persons because of race, color, religion, ancestry,
national origin, gender, transgender, sexual orientation, age, or
disability; and to provide for a reporting mechanism to compile,
track, and analyze hate crimes data.

     Your Committee finds that this bill is necessary as hate or
bias motivated acts, including crimes and threats, against
persons because of their race, color, religion, ancestry,
national origin, gender, transgender, sexual orientation, age, or
disability are a growing problem in Hawaii.  Your Committee notes
that Hawaii is one of twelve states that do not have laws
addressing hate-motivated crimes, and one of only two states that
do not comply with the federal Hate Crimes Statistics Act.
Although other civil laws would apply to some hate or bias
motivated acts, there presently is no civil remedy specifically
for violence or threatened violence that is motivated by the fact
that the victim falls within a protected class.


 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 631
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     Your Committee further notes the concern expressed by the
Attorney General that the Criminal Justice Data Center would not
be able to handle the hate crime reporting responsibilities
proposed in the bill, absent additional funding.  While your
Committee sympathizes with this position, your Committee
nevertheless is unable to commit funds at the present time, but
feels strongly that this bill should move forward.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your
Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No.
605, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

                                 Respectfully submitted on behalf
                                 of the members of the Committee
                                 on Ways and Means,



                                 ________________________________
                                 CAROL FUKUNAGA, Co-Chair



                                 ________________________________
                                 ANDREW LEVIN, Co-Chair

 
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