STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1616

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2023

 

RE:   S.B. No. 1079

      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. 1079, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EXPUNGEMENT,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to require courts to, upon written request, expunge records of convictions for first-time offenses involving:

 

     (1)  Operating a vehicle after consuming a measurable amount of alcohol while under the age of twenty-one; and

 

     (2)  Certain property offenses, if the sentencing occurred before 1998.

 

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

 

     Your Committee finds that this measure will assist many individuals who were sentenced for the offense of operating a vehicle after consuming a measurable amount of alcohol while under the age of twenty-one or committed certain property offenses prior to 1998 in finding better employment and improving their all‑around quality of life.

 

     Your Committee notes that the Judiciary requested in its written testimony that this measure take effect on July 1, 2025, to allow system changes to be made to accommodate the requirements of this measure.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Changing the effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion; 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. 1079, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1079, 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