CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 19-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: S.B. No. 2197

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sirs:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 2197, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO GAMBLING OFFENSES,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to amend the definition of "advance gambling activity" to repeal language that included making no effort to prevent the occurrence or continuation of gambling activity.

Your Committee on Conference finds that existing law only requires the owner of a property to make an effort to stop illegal gambling from occurring on the property, which results in many owners taking minimal effort to evict tenants who conduct illegal operations, despite the owners receiving notice from law enforcement that illegal activity is occurring on their property. This measure will improve public safety by holding property owners accountable if they allow illegal gambling establishments to continue to operate on their property.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Including a sunset date of July 1, 2029; and

(2) Making it effective upon its approval.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2197, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2197, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ DAVID A. TARNAS Chair

____________________________ BRANDON J.C. ELEFANTE Chair