STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1451

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1541

H.D. 2

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 1541, H.D. 2, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish and appropriate funds for the Hawaii gun violence prevention center and staff within the University of Hawaii to research strategies to prevent gun violence.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawai‘i System. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawaii Rifle Association, Hawaii Firearms Coalition, Hawaii Hunting Association, and fifty-eight individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee finds that gun violence is a significant public health and public safety problem. Across the nation, rates of fatal gun violence have remained essentially unchanged for more than a decade, as declines in homicide have been offset by increases in suicide. Your Committee further finds that there is a lack of research about gun violence and its prevention. Therefore, this measure would allow the University of Hawaii to conduct the necessary research to analyze and develop strategies to prevent gun violence in the State.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Specifying that proceeds from criminal asset forfeitures may be deposited into the Hawaii gun violence prevention center special fund and making a conforming amendment to section 712A-16, Hawaii Revised Statutes;

(2) Deleting language that would have allowed the Hawaii gun violence prevention center special fund to provide grants to counties for gun violence prevention; 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 Higher Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1541, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1541, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Higher Education,

________________________________

DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair