STAND. COM. REP. NO.  984

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

 

RE:   S.B. No. 69

      S.D. 2

      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 Public Safety, to which was referred S.B. No. 69, S.D. 2, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FIREARMS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to promote gun safety and enhance registration requirements for firearms brought into the State.  Specifically, this measure:

 

     (1)  Extends the time period for registering a firearm that is brought into the State by an individual from three days to five days after the arrival of the individual or the firearm, whichever is later;

 

     (2)  Requires county police departments, to fingerprint, photograph, and perform background checks on individuals arriving in Hawaii with a firearm procured out-of-state when that firearm is registered;

 

     (3)  Allows the fingerprint and photograph requirement to be waived if the individual's fingerprint and photograph are already on file with the police department;

 

     (4)  Authorizes fees to be assessed for conducting a fingerprint check on an individual registering a firearm brought into Hawaii; and

 

     (5)  Appropriates funds for the counties to implement this measure.

 

     The Department of the Attorney General, Honolulu Police Department, Injury Prevention Advisory Committee, and several concerned individuals supported this measure.  The Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the County of Maui and Hawaii Rifle Association supported the measure with amendments.  The Hawaii Police Department supported the intent of the measure.  The National Rifle Association of America and numerous concerned individuals opposed this measure.  The Maui Police Department and two concerned individuals offered comments on this measure.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Requiring rather than allowing the firearm registration requirement regarding the fingerprinting and photographing of persons arriving in Hawaii with a firearm procured out-of-state to be waived when the applicant's fingerprints and photographs are already on file with the county police department; and

 

     (2)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2013.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 69, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 69, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

HENRY J.C. AQUINO, Chair