STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1938

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1176

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1176, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTRIC GUNS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to authorize law enforcement officers designated by the Director of Transportation to use electric guns and require them to be accredited to use electric guns by June 30, 2024.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation, Maui Police Department, and O‘ahu County Democrats Legislative Priorities Committee.

Your Committees find that harbor officers of the Department of Transportation are currently prohibited from carrying and using electric guns while on duty. Harbor officers are responsible for the security and law enforcement at all ten of the State's commercial harbors and play a vital role in protecting crucially important state infrastructure. Your Committees further find that while they are prohibited from using electric guns, harbor officers are authorized to carry firearms. Your Committees believe that electric guns can offer a safer alternative to the use of firearms in certain situations. This measure will allow harbor officers to more safely protect harbors in the State by authorizing them to use electric guns.

Your Committees have amended this measure by making it effective upon approval.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1176, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1176, H.D. 1, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means,

________________________________ DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair

________________________________ KARL RHOADS, Chair