STAND. COM. REP. NO.  386

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   H.B. No. 1618

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 1618 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY DAMAGE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to establish a pilot project to develop and evaluate a program for the acquisition, placement, operation, and maintenance of video surveillance cameras for the purpose of deterring property damage offenses, especially graffiti, and prosecuting offenders.

A concerned individual testified in support of this bill.  The American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii opposed this measure.

     Although surveillance technology placed in public areas may have a potential for crime control, there is also a potential for governmental abuse and invasion of privacy.  Your Committee finds that there should be further discussion on the use of video surveillance systems to control graffiti.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

(1)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2112, to encourage further discussion; and

(2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1618, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1618, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,

____________________________

TOMMY WATERS, Chair