STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3663

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2342

H.D. 1

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 2342, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WEAPONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Prohibit carrying or using a firearm in the commission of a separate misdemeanor offense;

(2) Amend and clarify prohibitions regarding deadly or dangerous weapons, switchblade knives, and butterfly knives; and

(3) Clarify hunter education certificates and other written exemptions regarding permit issuing.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of the Attorney General, Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu, and one individual.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from sixty individuals.

Your Committee finds that under existing law, it is a class C felony to knowingly possess a pistol or other deadly or dangerous weapon while engaged in the commission of a crime. This measure will protect the public from the serious risks associated with the carrying of firearms in connection with criminal activity by updating that prohibition and creating a separate class C felony offense for carrying a firearm while engaged in the commission of a separate misdemeanor offense.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Making it effective upon its approval; and

(2) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

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. 2342, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2342, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.

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

________________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair