STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2392

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2812

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 2812 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE UNIFORM CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES ACT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to update chapter 329, Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS), the Uniform Controlled Substances Act, to be consistent with amendments to the federal Controlled Substances Act, as required under section 329-11, HRS.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Public Safety. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Maui Police Department.

Your Committee finds that this measure will update Hawaii's Uniform Controlled Substances Act, bringing it into conformity with the federal Controlled Substances Act. Your Committee finds that this change will ease enforcement and reduce confusion as to the scheduling of controlled substances in the State.

Your Committee also finds that additional amendments have been made to the federal Controlled Substances Act since this measure was introduced. Accordingly, your Committee finds that amendments recommended by the Department of Public Safety are necessary to include additionally scheduled controlled substances.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Incorporating the amendments proposed by the Department of Public Safety to include additionally scheduled controlled substances at sections 329-14(g) and 329‑16(g), Hawaii Revised Statutes; and

(2) 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 Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2812, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2812, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health,

________________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair