STAND. COM. REP. NO. 265

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: H.B. No. 73

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 73 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EMERGENCY WORKERS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to include telecommunications dispatchers within the definition of "emergency worker" in the Hawaii Penal Code. Specifically, this measure will provide heightened penalties for any person who commits the offense of assault against a telecommunications dispatcher during an emergency period.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health; Department of Health Environmental Health Administration; Enhanced 911 Board; Maui Police Department; Honolulu Police Department; Hawaii Police Department; Hawaii Fire Department; Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL‑CIO; Paradise Medical Services, LLC; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Office of the Public Defender.

Your Committee finds that telecommunications dispatchers play a vital role in partnership with their in-the-field first responder colleagues. Your Committee further finds that telecommunications dispatchers undergo extensive training to develop skills that allow them to assist individuals during a variety of situations. Your Committee believes that telecommunications dispatchers should be protected under the Hawaii Penal Code similar to their in-the-field first responder colleagues.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Including Hawaii state on-scene coordinators and Hawaii state hospital telephone operators within the definition of "emergency worker" in the Hawaii Penal Code; and

(2) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 73, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 73, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

MARK M. NAKASHIMA, Chair