Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 2076 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to improve the collection and analysis of DNA for the criminal justice system in Hawaii. Specifically, the bill:

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the City and County of Honolulu Department of the Prosecuting Attorney, County of Maui Police Department, and City and County of Honolulu Police Department Forensic Laboratory Director.

Your Committee finds that the Honolulu Police Department's crime laboratory needs additional staff, equipment, and space to handle the large number of cases requiring DNA tests or analyses. Currently, the Honolulu Police Department is the only law enforcement agency in the State that provides DNA analysis. The development of new scientific techniques and disciplines of criminal evidence analysis has increased the work load of the Honolulu crime lab, requiring other counties to send DNA samples to private mainland laboratories to ensure to timely service.

By expanding the crime lab of the Honolulu Police Department and providing funds to hire additional crime lab technicians, the measure will improve the criminal justice system throughout the State.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2076 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.