STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1615

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: S.B. No. 911

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 911, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO JURORS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to clarify that a prospective juror is disqualified to serve as a juror if they have been convicted of a felony and have not been finally discharged, in addition to not being pardoned.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of the Public Defender and Community Alliance on Prisons. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Judiciary.

Your Committee finds that existing law prohibits persons convicted of felonies from jury service unless they are pardoned. Your Committee believes that allowing persons who have completed their sentences for felony convictions to serve on juries will enhance diversity and representation on juries in the State.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Amending the definition of "finally discharged" to mean the person has received or is eligible to receive a certificate of discharge; and

(2) 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 S.B. No. 911, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 911, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

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

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair