STAND. COM. REP. NO. 581

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 782

       S.D. 2

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Labor, to which was referred S.B. No. 782, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DANGEROUS WEAPONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to make it unlawful to construct, set off, ignite, discharge, or otherwise cause to explode any homemade explosive device, and establishing the violation of this prohibition as a class C felony.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from one individual.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Office of the Public Defender and one individual.

     Your Committee finds that although many Hawaii residents enjoy legal fireworks in accordance with state laws and county ordinances, a minority of people cause disturbances with loud and dangerous homemade explosives.  Components of these improvised devices can be highly volatile and susceptible to heat, shock, and friction.  Stockpiling homemade explosive device-making materials and completed devices may endanger family members, neighbors, and police and fire department personnel who respond to accidental fires caused by the devices.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Including the possession of homemade explosive devices within the conduct prohibited under this measure; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Labor that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 782, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 782, S.D. 2.

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

____________________________

CLAYTON HEE, Chair