STAND. COM. REP. NO. 278

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: H.B. No. 878

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. 878 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EXEMPTIONS FROM JURY DUTY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to exempt from jury duty any active member of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency or any county emergency management agency.

The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, Department of Emergency Management for the City and County of Honolulu, County of Kaua‘i Emergency Management Agency, and a concerned individual supported this measure. The Judiciary offered comments on this measure.

Your Committee notes that the Judiciary testified that the American Bar Association recommended that the opportunity for jury service should not be denied or limited on the basis of occupation and that all automatic excuses or exemptions from jury service should be eliminated. However, your Committee notes that this measure deserves consideration and further discussion as it moves through the legislative process.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion on this measure.

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. 878, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 878, 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