STAND.
COM. REP. NO. 792-22
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2022
RE: H.B. No. 2213
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 Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 2213 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MAIL THEFT,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to establish the felony offense of mail theft.
Your Committee finds that due to the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, more residents are relying on shipping and delivery services. Your Committee further finds that there are rising incidents of reported mail and package theft in Hawaii. This measure will further enable the prosecution of theft of mail at the state level.
Your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Placing the new offense under the Penal Code chapter that codifies offenses against property rights;
(2) Clarifying that a person commits the offense of theft of mail by intentionally obtaining or exerting unauthorized control over mail, rather than by intentionally appropriating mail;
(3) Amending the definition of "mail";
(4) Changing the category of offense from a class C felony to a misdemeanor;
(5) Changing the effective date to January 1, 2222, to encourage further discussion; and
(6) 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 Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2213, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2213, H.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,
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____________________________ MARK M. NAKASHIMA, Chair |
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