HB2232

SECTION 1. Chapter 134, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part I to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§134- Reports relating to certain orders. (a) No later than April 1, 2025, and April 1 of each year thereafter, the department of the attorney general shall publish a report on its publicly available website that includes for the prior calendar year and each month within that year, to the extent the data is available, the number of instances in which:

(1) A person subject to an order described in section 134‑7(f) or 134-86(g) surrendered a firearm, ammunition, or electric gun as a result of that order; and

(2) An order described in section 134-7(f) or 134-86(g) was denied, revoked, or allowed to expire, or the corresponding action was withdrawn by the petitioner, because the person subject to the order required a firearm, ammunition, or electric gun for the purposes of the person's employment.

(b) The judiciary, the department of law enforcement, the police departments of the several counties, and other state and county agencies shall provide to the department of the attorney general the data necessary for the purpose of each annual report, to the extent the data is available.

(c) The report required by this section may be published within the report that is published pursuant to section 134‑9.6."

SECTION 2. Section 134-7, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (f) to read as follows:

"(f) No person who has been restrained pursuant to an order of any court, including a gun violence protective order issued pursuant to part IV, from contacting, threatening, or physically abusing any person, shall possess, control, or transfer ownership of any firearm or ammunition, so long as the protective order, restraining order, or any extension is in effect[.]; provided that the person may possess or control a firearm and ammunition in the course of the person's employment if:

(1) The order is not an order issued pursuant to part IV;

(2) The person needs to possess or control a firearm and ammunition for the purpose of the person's employment;

(3) The employer lawfully owns the firearm and ammunition;

(4) The person does not hold any ownership interest in the employer or the firearm or ammunition, or any management authority in the employer;

(5) The employer prohibits the employee from possessing or controlling the firearm or ammunition outside the course of the person's employment;

(6) The person has never possessed or controlled the employer's firearm outside the course of the person's employment; and

(7) Upon demand by the presiding court, the person proves to the court's satisfaction that paragraphs (2) through (6) apply.

The protective order or restraining order shall specifically include a statement that possession, control, or transfer of ownership of a firearm or ammunition by the person named in the order is prohibited[.], except in the course of the person's employment, to the extent authorized by this subsection. The person shall relinquish possession and control of any firearm and ammunition owned by that person to the police department of the appropriate county for safekeeping for the duration of the order or extension thereof. At the time of service of a protective order or restraining order involving firearms and ammunition issued by any court, a police officer may take custody of any and all firearms and ammunition in plain sight, those discovered pursuant to a consensual search, and those firearms surrendered by the person restrained. If the person restrained is the registered owner of a firearm and knows the location of the firearm, but refuses to surrender the firearm or disclose the location of the firearm, the person restrained shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. In any case, when a police officer is unable to locate the firearms and ammunition either registered under this chapter or known to the person granted protection by the court, the police officer shall apply to the court for a search warrant pursuant to chapter 803 for the limited purpose of seizing the firearm and ammunition."

SECTION 3. Section 134-86, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (g) to read as follows:

"(g) No person who has been restrained pursuant to an order of any court, including an ex parte order as provided in this subsection, from contacting, threatening, or physically abusing any person or from possessing or owning a firearm, shall possess, control, or transfer ownership of an electric gun, so long as the protective order, restraining order, or any extension is in effect[~~, unless the~~]; provided that:

(1) The person may possess or control an electric gun in the course of the person's employment if:

(A) The person needs to possess or control an electric gun for the purpose of the person's employment;

(B) The employer lawfully owns the electric gun;

(C) The person does not hold any ownership interest in the employer or the electric gun, or any management authority in the employer;

(D) The employer prohibits the employee from possessing or controlling the electric gun outside the course of the person's employment;

(E) The person has never possessed or controlled the employer's firearm outside the course of the person's employment; and

(F) Upon demand by the presiding court, the person proves to the court's satisfaction that subparagraphs (A) through (E) apply; and

(2) The order, for good cause shown, may specifically [~~permits~~] permit the possession of an electric gun.

The restraining order or order of protection shall specifically include a statement that possession, control, or transfer of an electric gun by the person named in the order is prohibited[~~. Such~~], subject to the exceptions of this subsection. The person shall relinquish possession and control of any electric gun owned by that person to the police department of the appropriate county for safekeeping for the duration of the order or extension thereof.

In the case of an ex parte order that includes a restriction on the possession, control, or transfer of an electric gun, the affidavit or statement under oath that forms the basis for the order shall contain a statement of the facts that support a finding that the person to be restrained owns, intends to obtain or transfer, or possesses an electric gun, and that the electric gun may be used to threaten, injure, or abuse any person. The ex parte order shall be effective upon service pursuant to section 586-6.

At the time of service of a restraining order involving electric guns issued by any court, the police officer may take custody of any and all electric guns in plain sight, those discovered pursuant to a consensual search, and those electric guns surrendered by the person restrained.

For the purposes of this subsection, "good cause" shall not be based solely upon the consideration that the person subject to restraint pursuant to an order of any court, including an ex parte order as provided for in this subsection, is required to possess or carry an electric gun [~~during the course of the person's employment.~~] for the person's own safety. "Good cause" includes but is not limited to the protection and safety of the person to whom a restraining order is granted."

SECTION 4. This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.

SECTION 5. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2232
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024
STATE OF HAWAII