STAND. COM. REP. NO. 414

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1381

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 1381 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CRIME,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Establish a Special Intergovernmental Task Force to eradicate illegal gambling and drug activities and to establish community safe zones across the State; and

(2) Require a report to the Legislature.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Waikiki Neighborhood Board No. 9, Hawaii Family Forum, and seven individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Maui Police Department. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General.

Your Committee acknowledges the harmful effects of illegal gambling and drug houses that exist in communities across the State. These effects include an increase in other criminal activities such as crimes of violence and sex trafficking. Your Committee believes that rather than attempting to address these criminal activities in a piecemeal fashion, an intergovernmental task force encompassing federal, state, and county agencies should be established to engage in an organized, collaborative effort to examine relevant issues, determine the resources needed to address these issues, and devise a coordinated action plan.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Specifying that in fulfilling its duties, the Special Intergovernmental Task Force shall consider the necessary resources and legislative actions that may be necessary to accomplish certain goals and activities; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1381, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1381, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs,

________________________________

CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair