Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 1367 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to increase the mandatory minimum term of imprisonment from one year to two years for the offense of promoting a dangerous drug in the first degree in cases involving methamphetamine.

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Prosecuting Attorney and Police Department, City and County of Honolulu. Testimony in opposition to this measure was submitted by Public Defender, Community Alliance of Prisons, and the Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that in 2000, there were 699 methamphetamine investigations and 480 arrests. Based on these high statistics, it is apparent that methamphetamine supplies are abundant, and the demand has not diminished. This drug is highly addictive and causes hallucinations and paranoia which often times leads to violence. In addition, methamphetamine production poses a danger of fire, explosion, and a possibility of toxic chemical exposure to the community. Thus, your Committee finds that it is imperative that we maintain strict penal liability for this offense.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1367 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.