STAND. COM. REP. NO. 121

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 892

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 892 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to expand the offenses of assault against a law enforcement officer in the first and second degrees to include assaults against firefighters and water safety officers.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Fire Fighters Association and the Hawaii Bicycling League.

     Your Committee finds that there have been reported incidents of assaults against fire fighters and water safety officers, who are often first responders.  This measure provides fire fighters and water safety officers with an additional measure of protection in the line of duty.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 892 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Labor.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs,

____________________________

WILL ESPERO, Chair