STAND. COM. REP. NO. 406-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 1502

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Economic Development, to which was referred H.B. No. 1502 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to subject a defendant who has been convicted of four misdemeanors in any business district or resort zoned area to a probationary term of geographic restriction.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Waikiki Neighborhood Board No. 9 and ten individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of the Attorney General. Your Committee received comments on this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that business districts and resort areas tend to have increased rates of criminal activity partly due to high rates of foot traffic. In addition the criminal activity in these areas is often at the hands of repeat offenders who return to the same location to victimize new, unsuspected individuals. This measure would make these areas safer by imposing strict penalties for repeat offenders.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that a resort area is an area zoned for resort or resort-hotel use by the appropriate county land use decision-making authority; and

(2) 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 Economic Development that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1502, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1502, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Economic Development,

____________________________

SEAN QUINLAN, Chair