STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2124

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2332

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 S.B. No. 2332 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE PENAL CODE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require the Judicial Council to conduct a comprehensive review of the Hawaii Penal Code.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and one individual.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Judiciary.

Your Committee finds that the Hawaii Penal Code is the fundamental document by which the State addresses crime, and that it is imperative that such an important part of state law receive full and deliberate attention from time to time to ensure the Code's continued force and effectiveness. Since the Hawaii Penal Code was enacted in 1972, there have been four significant reviews of the code, in 1983, 1993, 2005, and 2015. Your Committee notes that it has been nine years since the last review and it will be eleven years since the last review by the time the report required by this measure is submitted to the Legislature in 2026. This measure will ensure that the Hawaii Penal Code will continue to be effective, fair, and balanced.

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 S.B. No. 2332 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

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KARL RHOADS, Chair