STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3561

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1455

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 1455, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ROBBERY IN THE FIRST DEGREE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to amend the offense of robbery in the first degree to include a person committing theft or non-consensual taking of a motor vehicle while being armed with an electric gun.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Honolulu Police Department and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that the Hawaii Penal Code does not adequately address potential situations in which offenders will utilize electric guns to facilitate crimes. Electric guns can cause severe pain and completely incapacitate a person. Criminals will begin to use these devices against others to facilitate crimes as electric guns become more prevalent in the community. This measure aims to deter the use of an electric gun during the course of committing theft or non-consensual taking of a motor vehicle.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making it effective upon its approval.

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. 1455, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1455, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

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

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KARL RHOADS, Chair