STAND. COM. REP. NO.  717

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

RE:   H.B. No. 38

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 38 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO UNLAWFUL CHOP SHOP ACTIVITY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to increase public safety by establishing the offenses of unlawful chop shop activity in the first and second degree and authorizing the State to order the forfeiture of any property or funds connected to chop shop activity.

The Honolulu Police Department testified in support of this measure.  The Office of the Public Defender testified in opposition to this bill.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Increasing the threshold amount for unlawful chop shop activity in the first degree to $250,000 or greater, and to $100,000 or greater, but less than $250,000, for unlawful chop shop activity in the second degree; 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. 38, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 38, H.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

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

____________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair