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 S.B. No. 619 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to eliminate statutory inconsistencies in the Hawaii Penal Code relating to the maximum term of imprisonment for the conviction of a petty misdemeanor offense.

Testimony in support of the measure was submitted by the Judiciary.

Your Committee finds that there is an inconsistency in the Hawaii Penal Code in regards to the statutory definition of a petty misdemeanor and the maximum prison term that may be imposed for the conviction of a petty misdemeanor offense. This measure is designed to address that inconsistency by clearly defining a petty misdemeanor as a criminal offense for which the maximum prison term is not to exceed thirty days.

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 S.B. No. 619 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.