STAND. COM. REP. NO. 276

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1452

S.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 Public Safety and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 1452 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE UNIFORM CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE ACT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to update chapter 329, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to make it consistent with amendments in the Federal Controlled Substances Act as required under section 329-11, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Law Enforcement and Department of the Prosecuting Attorney for the City and County of Honolulu.

Your Committee finds that keeping the State's controlled substances schedules current with federal regulations is crucial for effective law enforcement, ensuring public safety, and maintaining compliance with national drug control standards.

Your Committee further finds that the alignment of state and federal controlled substances regulations helps prevent confusion among law enforcement agencies, healthcare providers, and the public regarding the legal status of various substances. It also assures that the State's law enforcement can effectively coordinate with federal agencies in addressing drug-related crimes and maintaining public safety.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Correcting the name of a drug from 4‑anilino‑N‑phenethyl-4piperidine to 4‑anilino‑N‑phenethylpiperdine in the list of schedule II controlled substances;

(2) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2077, to encourage further discussion; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1452, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1452, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs,

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BRANDON J.C. ELEFANTE, Chair