STAND. COM. REP. NO.  566

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

 

RE:   H.B. No. 343

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 343 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 gambling law to provide that gambling activities offered incident to the purchase of goods or services constitute gambling.

 

     The Honolulu Police Department, Maui Police Department, Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice, Hawaii Family Forum, Hawaii Catholic Conference, and Hawaii Coalition Against Legalized Gambling testified in support of this measure.  Several concerned individuals testified in opposition to this measure.  A concerned individual offered comments.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Broadening the definition of "something of value" to include the purchase of an item or service that entitles a person to participate in a gambling scheme or use a gambling device, or any entries, credits, or play points that extend or permit the privilege of playing a game of chance without charge; and

 

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     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 H.B. No. 343, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 343, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair