STAND. COM. REP. NO. 345

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 92

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 S.B. No. 92 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO POLICE REPORTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to allow surviving immediate family members of murder or manslaughter victims to access a copy of the closing report prepared by the investigating police department, upon conclusion of all criminal and civil proceedings that arise from the offense.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i.

Your Committee finds that the surviving immediate family members of murder or manslaughter victims often experience profound grief, sense of loss, and guilt. Your Committee further finds that establishing closure can help these surviving family members to process their loss and begin the healing process. This measure will help those family members gain that closure by allowing them to access a copy of the closing report upon the conclusion of criminal and civil proceedings.

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 S.B. No. 92 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