STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1753

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 695

H.D. 2

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 695, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FENCES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to allow for the use of battery-charged security fences used for non-agricultural purposes, under certain circumstances.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Electronic Security Association; Amarok Ultimate Perimeter Security; and Penske Truck Leasing Co., L.P.

Your Committee finds that existing state law does not clearly differentiate between the use of battery-charged security fences in a non-agricultural setting and electrical fences in an agricultural setting. Your Committee notes that battery-charged security fences are a common solution when dealing with pervasive theft in areas of high risk for crime. According to the most recent statistics, approximately $85,000,000 in property value was reported stolen in the State, an increase of 6.6 percent from the figure reported in the prior year. This measure seeks to deter and decrease crime quickly and effectively through the use of battery-charged security fences.

Your Committee has amended this measure by inserting an effective date of March 22, 2075, to encourage further discussion.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 695, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 695, H.D. 2, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,

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KARL RHOADS, Chair