STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1247

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 94

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 94 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO ESTABLISH A WORKING GROUP TO STUDY FORENSIC LABORATORIES IN THE STATE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Department of the Attorney General to establish a working group to study forensic laboratories in the State.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General and Honolulu Police Department.

     Your Committee finds that supporting the development and expanded use of forensic science by law enforcement is important for protecting the public safety and welfare.  Currently, the Honolulu Police Department's Scientific Investigation Section includes the only full-service forensic laboratory in the State.  Other law enforcement agencies in the State have more limited facilities.  To promote greater public safety, it is important to examine ways in which the use of forensic science may be expanded to these other law enforcement agencies in the State.  Accordingly, the Attorney General is requested to establish a working group to examine the use of forensic science in the State, including the capabilities, staffing levels, caseloads, task completion times, accreditation requirements, and other issues related to the operation of forensic laboratories in the State.

     Your Committee understands the concerns of the Department of the Attorney General regarding the need for additional time to complete the required study.

     Therefore, your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Requesting the working group, through the Department of the Attorney General, to submit an additional report, as an interim report, to the Legislature prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2018;

     (2)  Amending the report requested to be submitted by the working group, through the Department of the Attorney General, to be a final report and extending the deadline for submission to twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2019; and

     (3)  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 concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 94, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committees on Judiciary and Labor and Ways and Means, in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 94, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs,

________________________________

CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair