STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3177

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1253

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1253, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS ON CERTAIN STATE LANDS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to decriminalizes traffic infractions within natural area reserves, game management areas, wildlife sanctuaries, and public hunting areas.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committees find that Act 101, Session Laws of Hawaii 2008, decriminalized traffic violations within the state park system. This measure similarly decriminalizes traffic violations on lands managed by the Department of Land and Natural Resources' Division of Forestry and Wildlife to simplify the resolution of traffic violations occurring on those state lands, reduce efforts and resources expended to resolve minor traffic violations, and ensure that police, prosecutorial, and judicial resources are focused on the most serious criminal offenses.

Your Committees have amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1253, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1253, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means,

________________________________ DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair

________________________________ KARL RHOADS, Chair