STAND. COM. REP. NO. 206

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 420

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs and Transportation and Energy, to which was referred S.B. No. 420 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LASER DEVICES,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to make it a criminal offense to intentionally or knowingly direct the beam from a laser device at an occupied aircraft.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation, Honolulu Police Department, and one individual.

     Your Committees find that aircraft safety is vitally important to the health, safety, and welfare of the public.  There have been in recent years a growing number of incidents in which individuals have targeted aircraft with laser lights during flight or while landing.  The State's existing penal code does not adequately address situations in which an individual aims a laser light at an occupied aircraft and is particularly deficient in situations where the individual with the laser light causes injuries to those on board.  This measure establishes criminal offenses for directing a laser light at an occupied aircraft in the form of:

     (1)  A misdemeanor for intentionally or knowingly directing a beam of light from a laser or laser scope at an occupied aircraft; and

     (2)  A class C felony if the act of directing a beam of light from a laser or laser scope at an occupied aircraft causes injury to the pilot, crew, or passengers on board.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs and Transportation and Energy that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 420 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary and Labor.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs and Transportation and Energy,

________________________________ LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair

________________________________ CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair