Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1955, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to increase the minimum fines for littering from a motor vehicle, littering in public, and criminal littering, and to increase the maximum fine for criminal littering.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Windward Ahupua`a Alliance. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Office of the Public Defender.

Your Committee finds that the current mandatory minimum fines for littering violations are not a sufficient deterrent. The present minimum fine for littering is only $25. An increase in the minimum fine serves as a greater deterrent because fines tend to be imposed at the minimum rather than the maximum amount for violations. An increase in the fine schedule will serve as an incentive to keep Hawaii beautiful.

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. 1955, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.