STAND. COM. REP. NO. 685-20

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2020

RE: H.B. No. 2744

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Judiciary and Public Safety, Veterans, & Military Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 2744 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to prevent gun violence and save lives by establishing the Hawaii Gun Violence Prevention Center within the University of Hawaii with the mission to bring law enforcement and medical stakeholders together to analyze related data and develop evidence-based strategies to prevent gun violence in Hawaii.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the County of Hawaii Office of the Mayor and thirteen individuals. Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from the National Rifle Association of America, Lessons in Firearms Education, and fifteen individuals.

Prior to decision making on this measure, your Committees made available for public review a proposed H.D. 1, which amends this measure by:

(1) Deleting its substantive contents;

(2) Establishing, and appropriating funds for, the Gun Violence and Violent Crimes Commission within the Department of the Attorney General to:

(A) Address gun violence and violent crimes in Hawaii;

(B) Provide coordination, facilitation, and planning among state and county agencies, federal agencies, and other partners, as appropriate; and

Your Committees received testimony in support of the proposed H.D. 1 from one individual. Your Committees received testimony in opposition to the proposed H.D. 1 from the National Rifle Association of America.

Your Committees find that individuals with minimal expertise may assemble firearms without serial numbers or other identification makings from firearm parts or components, including what is known as eighty percent receivers, which are items that have not yet reached a stage of manufacture that meets the definition of firearm frame or receiver under the Gun Control Act of 1968, and therefore are not subject to regulation. Your Committees further find that individuals who are otherwise prohibited from owning or possessing firearms under state law can assemble these "ghost guns", thereby bypassing background checks, registration, and other legal requirements.

Accordingly, your Committees have amended this measure by adopting the proposed H.D. 1, and further amending the measure by:

(1) Deleting the appropriations for the Gun Violence and Violent Crimes Commission;

(2) Inserting the contents of H.B. No. 1733, Regular Session (2020), which:

(A) Prohibits the manufacture, purchase, or obtaining of firearm parts for the purpose of assembling a firearm having no serial number; and

(B) Amends certain requirements relating to firearms registration;

(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 records of votes of the members of your Committees on Judiciary and Public Safety, Veterans, & Military Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2744, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2744, H.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Judiciary and Public Safety, Veterans, & Military Affairs,

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GREGG TAKAYAMA, Chair

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CHRIS LEE, Chair