STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1460-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: S.B. No. 3033

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. 3033 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PHYSICAL EVIDENCE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to align the criminal offense of tampering with physical evidence with the wording of the Model Penal Code for tampering with or fabricating physical evidence.

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

Your Committee finds that existing laws addressing the tampering of physical evidence omit several phrases from the corresponding offense in the Model Penal Code. This measure is intended to increase public confidence in investigations conducted by state and local law enforcement by strengthening the State's laws prohibiting tampering with physical evidence.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

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

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments 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. 3033, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3033, 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