STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2579

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                   

 

RE:     S.B. No. 2518

        S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2518 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FIREARMS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

 

     (1)  Authorize the Attorney General to grant, in exceptional cases, licenses to carry concealed or unconcealed firearms;

 

     (2)  Clarify that the authority of the county chiefs of police to grant licenses to carry unconcealed firearms is limited to applicants who are engaged in the protection of life and property while employed by certain entities;

 

     (3)  Specify the training requirements of license applicants; and

 

     (4)  Amend the fee from a per-license to a per-application basis and increase the fee.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of the Mayor of the County of Hawaii and four individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of the Attorney General, National Rifle Association of America, Hawaii Firearms Coalition, and two hundred fourteen individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Board of Private Detectives and Guards.

 

     Your Committee finds that Hawaii has one of the strictest firearms carry laws in the nation.  However, the firearm carry law has recently come under scrutiny in light of a recent federal appeals court decision.  This court decision has brought to the State's attention certain concerns in the application process involving licenses to carry firearms in the State.  Under existing law, Hawaii has granted some discretion to the county chiefs of police relating to the approval of licenses.  Your Committee finds that this discretion may create a situation where each county uses different standards for granting licenses to carry firearms with the respective county.  Currently, there is no consistent statewide authority that oversees the granting of licenses.

 

     Your Committee has heard the concerns of the Department of the Attorney General regarding the lack of knowledge and expertise in the office with regard to making concealed and unconcealed carry licensing determinations.  However, your Committee believes that having a single state agency making decisions with regard to firearm carrying licensing will ensure consistency in the determinations made for those seeking a firearm carry license.  Your Committee recognizes the concerns of the Department of the Attorney General and your Committee requests that the Department have discussions with the Honolulu Police Department to develop a consensus regarding their concerns prior to your Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means hearing this measure.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Requiring, instead of authorizing, the Attorney General to grant a license to an eligible applicant to carry an ammunition concealed or unconcealed firearm under certain circumstances; 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 Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2518, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2518, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means.

 

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

 

 

 

________________________________

CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair