STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2666

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2786

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 2786, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Close to the public certain areas within a housing project under the jurisdiction of the Hawaii Public Housing Authority where signs are displayed that comply with certain requirements; and

(2) Amend the offense of criminal trespass in the second degree to clarify when, under certain circumstances, a person commits the offense of entering or remaining unlawfully in or upon any area of a housing project that is closed to the public.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Public Housing Authority.

Your Committee finds that one of the greatest concerns and priorities of the Hawaii Public Housing Authority is the safety and wellbeing of its tenants and staff. However, there have been a number of incidents occurring on housing project properties due to the presence of uninvited individuals, including unauthorized individuals entering onto public housing property and setting up tents in the middle of the property or causing property damage. Other cases have involved evicted tenants returning to the property to harass or intimidate their former neighbors. These acts create conflict among the tenants as well as staff. Accordingly, this measure provides the Hawaii Public Housing Authority with a tool to address and resolve these matters and to create a safer living environment for the community.

Your Committee has amended this measure by inserting an effective date of July 1, 2035, to encourage further discussion.

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. 2786, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2786, S.D. 2.

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

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BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair