STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1463-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: S.B. No. 2197

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2197, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

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 received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu and Honolulu Police Department. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Office of the Public Defender.

Your Committee finds that this measure would hold property owners accountable if they have knowledge of the illegal activity occurring on their property and they continue to allow illegal gambling establishments to operate.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Including a sunset date of July 1, 2027;

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(3) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment 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. 2197, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2197, 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