STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2191

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 2474

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committees on Human Services and Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 2474 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO INTOXICATING LIQUOR VIOLATIONS INVOLVING MINORS,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to encourage minors to call for help in the event of an alcohol related medical emergency by:

 

(1)  Providing, under certain conditions, immunity from prosecution to a minor for the consumption, purchase, or possession of liquor, if the minor summons medical treatment for another minor who requires the treatment as a result of consuming liquor; and

 

(2)  Providing similar immunity, under certain conditions, to the minor who required the medical treatment and one or two other minors acting in concert with the minor summoning medical treatment.

 

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from two individuals.  Written testimony presented to the Committees may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

 

     Your Committees recognize that minors faced with a medical emergency as a result of excess drinking often hesitate to call for help because of the fear of facing legal charges related to alcohol possession and use.  Providing immunity under these limited circumstances has proven to be an effective means of saving lives by encouraging young people to call for help.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services and Health that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2474 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Government Operations.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Human Services and Health,

 

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair

 

____________________________

SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair