STAND. COM. REP. NO. 379-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 2232

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 2232 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WEAPONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Require the Department of the Attorney General to publish annual reports regarding certain protective and restraining orders, firearms, and electric guns; and

(2) Authorize persons subject to certain protective and restraining orders to possess or control firearms, ammunition, or electric guns in the course of employment, subject to certain conditions.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from one individual. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General.

Your Committee finds that there may be circumstances in which a person subject to a protective order or restraining order may need to possess or control a firearm or electric gun in the course of the person's employment. This measure will establish a narrow exception for these individuals while maintaining certain safeguards.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Removing the deadline for the submission of the annual report by the Department of the Attorney General and amending how the information in the report is organized;

(2) Requiring the chief of police of each county, Judiciary, and Department of Law Enforcement to provide the Department of the Attorney General with the data from the prior calendar year no later than March 31 of each year to enable the Department of the Attorney General to complete the report;

(3) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(4) 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 Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2232, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2232, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair