STAND. COM. REP. NO.  961-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

RE:   S.B. No. 2938

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Public Safety, to which was referred S.B. No. 2938, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FIREARMS REGISTRATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to provide for a more efficient and cost-effective firearms registration process by requiring the Department of the Attorney General, in collaboration with the county police departments, to establish and operate a statewide online firearms registration process that requires no more than two visits to the respective county police station per registration, and appropriating funds for this purpose.

Mulkern Landscaping & Nursery, the National Rifle Association, and numerous concerned individuals supported this measure.  The Department of the Attorney General, Maui Police Department, Honolulu Police Department, Injury Prevention Advisory Committee, and Americans for Democratic Action/Hawaii opposed this measure.  A few concerned individuals offered comments on the measure.  

     Your Committee has amended this measure by deleting its contents and inserting provisions that establish a working group to study the feasibility of implementing a statewide online firearms registration process.

     Your Committee has also amended this measure by:

     (1)  Requiring the working group to review the current firearms registration process, concerns or problems with the current process, and methods to address these concerns or problems in addition to an online registration process;

     (2)  Requiring the working group to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than 20 days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2015; and

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2938, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2938, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety,

____________________________

HENRY J.C. AQUINO, Chair