STAND. COM. REP. NO. 732

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 112

S.D. 2

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 S.B. No. 112, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO POLICE REPORTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to allow surviving immediate family members of deceased persons for whom law enforcement initiated an investigation to receive a copy of the closing report prepared by the investigating police department upon the conclusion of all criminal proceedings related to the incident.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from one individual.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Honolulu Police Department.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Public First Law Center.

Your Committee finds that when a family member dies in an incident that leads to a law enforcement investigation, the surviving family members may continue to have questions long after law enforcement closes their investigation. Your Committee further finds that it can often take several years for surviving family members to obtain a copy of the closing report prepared by the law enforcement agency at the conclusion of the agency's investigation. This measure will ensure that surviving family members receive the closing report of a law enforcement investigation into a family member's death within a certain period of time.

Your Committee notes that unsolved cases may remain open and unconcluded for years or even decades. Your Committee therefore believes that establishing a set timeline for surviving immediate family members to receive a copy of the closing report of a deceased loved one is critical to ensure that the family actually receives the report.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting language that requires the investigating police department to provide a copy of the closing report after a specified period of time; and

(2) Amending section 1 to reflect its amended purpose.

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. 112, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 112, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,

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KARL RHOADS, Chair