STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2737

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 2136

 

 

 

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 S.B. No. 2136 entitled:

 

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

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent 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 Hawaii, Rainbow Family 808, Hawaii Rainbow Chamber of Commerce, and four individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that an individual's gender identity or expression is not currently protected from discrimination for service on a jury.  Individuals should not be discriminated against based on their gender identity or expression in the State's laws.  This measure disallows arbitrary discrimination for service on a jury so that all individuals may participate in performing their civic duties.

 

     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 S.B. No. 2136 and recommends that it pass Second Reading 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