STAND. COM. REP. NO. 793-20

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2020

RE: H.B. No. 1614

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 1614 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO JURORS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to authorize psychologists to claim an exemption from jury service.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Psychological Association, Pacific Behavioral Health, and numerous individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Judiciary.

In an effort to tighten the amount of jury service exemptions in the State, your Committee finds that a study on jury service exemptions in other states, specifically jury service exemptions for medical professionals with active patients, is necessary.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting its substantive contents;

(2) Requiring the Judiciary to study and report to the Legislature on the jury service exemptions in Hawaii and other states, including jury service exemptions for medical professionals, such as psychologists, with active patients, rather than allow psychologists an exemption from jury service;

(3) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1614, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1614, H.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,

____________________________

CHRIS LEE, Chair