STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1370

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 159

H.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 159, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CRIME,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to increase the penalties for certain drug- and gambling-related offenses in order to deter property owners from allowing those illegal activities on their properties.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the City and County of Honolulu Police Department and Maui Police Department.

Your Committee finds that a number of property owners, many of whom own multiple properties in the State, are allowing their tenants to conduct illegal activities on their properties, including drug- and gambling-related activity. Your Committee further finds that increasing penalties for landowners who allow tenants and others to conduct illegal activity on the landowners' property can help deter crime.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 159, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs,

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CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair