STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1036-20

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2020

 

RE:   S.B. No. 1253

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Water, Land, & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 1253, S.D. 2, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS ON CERTAIN STATE LANDS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure to decriminalize traffic infractions within the Department of Land and Natural Resources' natural area reserves, game management areas, wildlife sanctuaries, and public hunting areas and replace the penalties with fines.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and one individual.

 

     Your Committee finds that Act 101, Session Laws of Hawaii 2008, decriminalized traffic infractions within the state park system, but did not decriminalize similar infractions committed within the Department of Land and Natural Resources' natural area reserves, game management areas, wildlife sanctuaries, and public hunting areas.  This measure decriminalizes traffic violations on those lands as a means of simplifying the resolution of traffic violations occurring on those state lands and ensuring that police, prosecutorial, and judicial resources are focused on the most serious criminal offenses.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Requiring all monies collected from fines to be deposited in the general fund;

 

     (2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, 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 Water, Land, & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1253, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1253, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water, Land, & Hawaiian Affairs,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair