STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1690-16

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2016

 

RE:   S.B. No. 2916

      S.D. 1

      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 Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 2916, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

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

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to increase public safety by adding misdemeanor offenses involving any type of firearm, ammunition, or dangerous weapon under chapter 134, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to the offenses that disqualify parole violators from provisions that limit the period of incarceration for parole violations to no more than six months when the remaining unserved term at the time of parole exceeds the six-month maximum period.

 

     The Department of Public Safety and Hawaii Paroling Authority testified in support of this measure.  Hawaii Friends of Restorative Justice, Community Alliance on Prisons, and three concerned individuals testified in opposition.

 

     Your Committee notes that concerns have been raised that the Justice Reinvestment Initiative, as reflected in Act 139, Session Laws of Hawaii 2012, and in other legislation, is not moving forward as fast as was hoped and expected.  Nonetheless, this present measure addresses weapons violations that your Committee believes should be considered separately from Justice Reinvestment issues, and your Committee believes that it should be adopted as proposed.

     Your Committee looks forward to reports from the Department of Public Safety, Department of the Attorney General, and other relevant agencies showing progress in Justice Reinvestment in the future.

 

     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 S.B. No. 2916, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair