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. 1763, H.D. 2, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish and appropriate funds for an advisory committee to conduct a comprehensive review of the Hawaii Penal Code and report findings and recommendations to the Legislature prior to the convening of the 2006 Regular Session.

Testimony in support of the measure was submitted by the Office of the Public Defender. Testimony in opposition to the measure was submitted by the Crime Victim Compensation Commission. The Department of the Prosecuting Attorney for the City and County of Honolulu, the Judiciary, the Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, and the Sex Abuse Treatment Center offered comments on the measure.

This measure establishes an advisory committee comprised of law enforcement officials, attorneys, government agencies, and interested citizens to conduct a comprehensive review of the Hawaii Penal Code and report findings and recommendations to the Legislature prior to the convening of the 2006 Regular Session. Your Committee finds that this measure is designed to address any inconsistencies, ambiguities, and errors that may exist within the Hawaii Penal Code.

Your Committee has amended this measure by including a representative from a victim advocacy group on the committee.

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. 1763, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1763, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.