STAND. COM. REP. NO.  264

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2021

 

RE:   H.B. No. 652

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 652 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EXEMPTIONS FROM JURY DUTY,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to exempt active members of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency and county emergency management agencies from jury duty.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Maui Emergency Management Agency, Kauai Emergency Management Agency, and two individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Judiciary.

 

     Your Committee finds that the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency and county emergency management agencies serve essential, critical, and unique roles and functions in providing emergency management for the State, including during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Active members of these agencies should not face hindrances in the performance of these vital roles.

 

     Should your Committee on Finance deliberate on this measure further, your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs respectfully requests that it consider whether inserting a repeal date after the end of the COVID-19 pandemic is appropriate.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 652 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

MARK M. NAKASHIMA, Chair