STAND. COM. REP. NO.  242-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.B. No. 2128

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Human Services & Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 2128 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE PENAL CODE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to enhance public safety and prevent domestic violence by classifying as an assault in the second degree and terroristic threatening in the first degree, certain actions committed against individuals, who the courts and police are attempting to keep safe, through family court domestic abuse protective orders and police orders.

     The Department of the Attorney General, Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu, Honolulu Police Department, Domestic Violence Action Center, Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Voices, and Hawaii Family Forum testified in support of this bill.  The Office of the Public Defender opposed this measure.

     Your Committee defers to the Committee on Judiciary on technical and other issues raised by the testifiers.  Your Committee notes that this measure serves as a deterrent since actions that are currently classified as misdemeanors would become Class C felonies, thus enhancing the penalties for those actions.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services & Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2128 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services & Housing,

____________________________

MAILE SHIMABUKURO, Chair