STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1366

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 132

H.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 132, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EXPUNGEMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to amend the Department of the Attorney General pilot project for a state—initiated expungement process of arrest records concerning promoting a detrimental drug in the third degree to include the possession of any schedule V substance in any amount.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of the Public Defender, Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission, ACLU of Hawaiʻi, Community Alliance on Prisons, and two individuals.

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

Your Committee finds that expungement of criminal records allows those impacted to have more and better job opportunities, better education opportunities, more options for housing, and removes the stigma of having a criminal record. Your Committee further finds that Act 62, Session Laws of Hawaii 2024 (Act 62), created a pilot project for a state initiated expungement process of arrest records in the County of Hawaii. This measure will help to further streamline the state-initiated expungement process under Act 62 and ensure that more people are able to clear their records and obtain greater access to jobs, housing, and other life opportunities.

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 H.B. No. 132, H.D. 1, 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