STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2133

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2516

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2516 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC SAFETY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish a gradient penalty structure for the offense of hindering prosecution in the first degree, based on the level of offense hindered.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of the Attorney General, Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the County of Maui, Maui Police Department, Office of the Prosecuting Attorney of the County of Hawaii, Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu, and twelve individuals.

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

Your Committee finds that it is necessary to hold individuals accountable when they assist offenders who have committed serious crimes. Existing penalties for hindering prosecution in the first degree constitute a class C felony, regardless of the original offense. Consequently, individuals who hinder prosecution of serious crimes may be given similar penalties to individuals who hinder prosecution of significantly less serious offenses. This measure closes the gap in existing statute by providing a gradient of penalties for hindering prosecution in the first degree to ensure that individuals who hinder the prosecution of serious or violent crimes receive more appropriate penalties.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2516 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs,

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CAROL FUKUNAGA, Chair