Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 164, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to create a new misdemeanor offense of unauthorized operation of a recording device in a motion picture theatre.

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Motion Picture Association of America, Consolidated Amusement Company Limited, and Regal Entertainment Group. The Office of the Public Defender commented on the measure.

This measure prohibits the recording of a motion picture by individuals using a recording device in a movie theatre. Your Committee finds that this measure is designed to address the problem of movie piracy where films are illicitly recorded and distributed either before a film's commercial release date or shortly thereafter.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 164, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.