STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1582-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: S.B. No. 2693

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2693, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO STATES OF EMERGENCY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish the criminal offense of charitable fraud during a state of emergency.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Honolulu Police Department. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from two individuals.

Your Committee finds that this measure will deter people from engaging in deceptive acts or practices regarding the solicitation of a contribution to assist persons affected by a disaster or emergency.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying the criminal acts that would constitute an offense of charitable fraud during a state of emergency;

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(3) 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 S.B. No. 2693, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2693, S.D. 2, 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,

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair