HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	951
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO MANSLAUGHTER.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. Section 707-702, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (1) to read as follows:

"(1) A person commits the offense of manslaughter if:

(a) The person recklessly causes the death of another person; [or]

(b) The person intentionally causes another person to commit suicide; or

(c) The person knowingly distributes a dangerous drug in any amount and another person dies as a result of ingesting that drug. It shall not be a defense to prosecution under this section that the decedent contributed to the decedent's own death or serious bodily injury by voluntary or involuntary ingestion of the drug. A person who commits this offense shall be held strictly liable for causing the decedent's death. For the purposes of this paragraph, "dangerous drug" has the same meaning as in section 712-1240 and "distributes" has the same meaning as "to distribute" in section 712-1240;

provided that this section shall not apply to actions taken under chapter 327L."

SECTION 2. This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.

SECTION 3. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on January 28, 2081.

Report Title:

Manslaughter; Dangerous Drug; Distribution

Description:

Amends the offense of manslaughter to include cases where a person knowingly distributes a dangerous drug in any amount and another person dies as a result of ingesting that drug. (HB951 HD1)

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