STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1266-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.B. No. 2136

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 S.B. No. 2136 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO JURY SERVICE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to prohibit juror exclusion based on gender identity or expression.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Stonewall Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, Rainbow Family 808, Hawai‘i Health & Harm Reduction Center, and three individuals.

Your Committee finds that gender identity and expression are not expressly protected from discrimination in jury service under existing law. This measure will clarify that a citizen may not be excluded from jury service in Hawaii based on their gender identity or expression.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to January 1, 2222, to encourage further discussion; 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 S.B. No. 2136, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2136, 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