STAND. COM. REP. NO.  438-16

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2016

RE:   H.B. No. 1525

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Water & Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 1525 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC ORDER,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish a criminal offense for sitting or lying on State property or for possessing camping equipment on State property for the purpose of camping on the property.

The Department of Transportation and two individuals provided testimony in support of the measure.  The Office of Hawaiian Affairs and several individuals provided testimony in opposition.  The Department of Land and Natural Resources and Corporation Counsel of the City and County of Honolulu provided comments.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by deleting its contents and inserting the following:

     (1)  A new section in chapter 708, Hawaii Revised Statutes, that establishes an offense for remaining unlawfully in or upon state property after a request to leave is made by any law enforcement officer under certain conditions;

     (2)  A new section requiring the departments with jurisdiction over state property to develop, implement, and report on a policy for coordinated enforcement of the new section in chapter 708, Hawaii Revised Statutes, in order to ensure public order; and

     (3)  An effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1525, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1525, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water & Land,

____________________________

RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair