STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2898

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 3189

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 3189, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO GAMBLING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to increase penalties for repeat violators of certain gambling laws.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from Pokai Bay/Lualualei Beach Park 11 Neighborhood Security Watch and one individual.

Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that in the past few years, there has been a steady increase in complaints against illegal gambling and game rooms, which often operate twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. These establishments often attract undesirable elements who cause peripheral crimes, including homicides, narcotics trafficking, assaults, robberies, thefts, and unauthorized vehicular entries. Your Committee also finds that these gambling establishments often create excessive noise, unnecessary foot traffic, and loitering, which make them a public nuisance. Accordingly, your Committee supports increased penalties for repeat illegal gambling offenders.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting an inapplicable proviso to the effective date; and

(2) Making technical nonsubstantive changes for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3189, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3189, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair