STAND. COM. REP. NO.  615

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2011

RE:   H.B. No. 1376

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 1376 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EVIDENCE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to make the news media privilege created by Act 210, Session Laws of Hawaii 2008, permanent by repealing the June 30, 2011, sunset provision currently in place.

     The American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii, Society of Profession Journalists-Hawaii Chapter, Big Island Press Club, Common Cause Hawaii, and several concerned individuals testified in support of this measure.  The Judiciary offered comments.

     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. 1376 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

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

____________________________

GILBERT KEITH-AGARAN, Chair