STAND. COM. REP. NO 294

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 197

       S.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 197 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FIREARMS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

     (1)  Prohibit certain state and county employees and officers who are authorized to carry firearms from carrying a firearm while consuming alcohol or within an unspecified number of hours of consuming alcohol;

     (2)  Prohibit certain state and county employees and officers who are authorized to carry firearms from carrying a firearm after ingesting prescription medications that would impair the judgment or physical response of the employee or officer while carrying a firearm; and

     (3)  Create an exemption for certain state and county employees who are taking part in an official criminal surveillance or undercover operation.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from two individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaii Rifle Association and one individual.

     Your Committee finds that the consumption of alcohol or certain prescription medications can impair the judgment and physical response of state or county employees and officers who are authorized to carry a firearm, thereby decreasing public safety.  However, there are occasions where state or county employees and officers may be compelled to consume small amounts of alcohol or drugs in the course of obtaining intelligence or evidence.  Implementation of this measure will increase public safety by establishing a high standard regarding the consumption of alcohol and certain prescription medications by select state and county employees and officers.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by 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 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. 197, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 197, S.D. 1, 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