STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1375

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 878

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. 878, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

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

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, City and County of Honolulu Department of Emergency Management, County of Kaua‘i Emergency Management Agency, County of Maui Emergency Management Agency, and two individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Judiciary.

Your Committee finds that due to the critical roles that physicians, members of the armed forces, police, firefighters, and emergency medical service members play in ensuring the safety of the public in emergency situations, those individuals are currently exempt from jury duty pursuant to section 612-6, Hawaii Revised Statutes. Your Committee also finds that, pursuant to chapter 127A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency and the county emergency management agencies serve essential, critical, and unique roles and functions in providing emergency management services in the State. Your Committee further finds that it is important to eliminate any hindrances, including jury duty, that active members of those agencies may face in serving in their essential roles.

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. 878, 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,

________________________________

CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair