STAND. COM. REP. NO. 206

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: H.B. No. 1541

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Public Safety, Veterans, & Military Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1541 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to prevent gun violence and save lives by:

(1) Establishing the Hawaii Gun Violence Prevention Center in the Department of the Attorney General to analyze and develop strategies to prevent gun violence in Hawaii; and

(2) Establishing the Hawaii Gun Violence Prevention Center Special Fund and appropriating funds for the hiring of staff for the Hawaii Gun Violence Prevention Center.

A few concerned individuals supported this measure. The Hawaii Firearms Coalition, Institute for Rational and Evidence-based Legislation, and many concerned individuals opposed this measure. The Department of Budget and Finance and Department of the Attorney General offered comments.

Your Committee notes that it was suggested that the Hawaii Gun Violence Prevention Center may also consider including in its research incidents in which guns were used to prevent violence.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Placing the Hawaii Gun Violence Prevention Center within the University of Hawaii rather than the Department of the Attorney General;

(2) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion on this measure; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety, Veterans, & Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1541, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1541, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety, Veterans, & Military Affairs,

____________________________

GREGG TAKAYAMA, Chair