STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3091

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2516

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, 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, Office of the Prosecuting Attorney of the County of Hawaii, Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the County of Maui, Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu, Kauaʻi Police Department, Hawaiʻi Police Department, and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that under existing law, offenders who obstruct or interfere with the apprehension, prosecution, conviction, or punishment of another offender are subject to a maximum penalty of a class C felony, regardless of the severity of the underlying offense. Your Committee believes that this disparity is unjust and undermines the public's confidence in the criminal justice system. This measure will ensure that those who aid others in evading justice are held accountable, thus helping to break the cycle of criminal activity and reducing the likelihood of future crimes.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying the gradient penalty structure for the offense of hindering prosecution in the first degree; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

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. 2516, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2516, S.D. 1.

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

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KARL RHOADS, Chair