HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1603

THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to criminal penalties.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the Hawaii State Planning Act, chapter 226, Hawaii Revised Statutes, sets forth the State's objectives and policies.  Pursuant to section 226‑24, Hawaii Revised Statutes, it is the policy of the State, in part, to protect individuals from criminal acts and alleviate the consequences of criminal acts in order to foster a safe and secure environment.  To achieve this policy, section 226-26, Hawaii Revised Statutes, establishes the following objectives:

     (1)  Ensuring that public safety programs are effective and responsive to community needs; and

     (2)  With respect to criminal justice, supporting criminal justice programs aimed at preventing and curtailing criminal activities.

     The legislature further finds that increasing the penalties for offenses against the person and property rights would help deter heinous acts, including the number of violent acts that have recently been reported.  For example, in December 2019, a seventy-five-year old woman was severely injured when a group of men drove up to her, stole her purse, and fled.  The woman was walking to church that early Sunday morning when she was attacked and dragged across the pavement, still tangled in her purse strap.  The offenders left her injured and lying in the roadway.

     Other recent vicious offenses have been reported to the police, including a midnight robbery and carjacking of a cab driver in Makiki on the island of Oahu and a man in Waikiki who was found barely conscious and bleeding profusely from the head after being beaten by a man who got away with his fanny pack.

     The purpose of this Act is to increase the penalties for the offenses of assault, burglary, criminal property damage, and theft by one grade.

     SECTION 2.  Section 707-710, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (2) to read as follows:

     "(2)  Assault in the first degree is a class [B] A felony."

     SECTION 3.  Section 707-711, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (2) to read as follows:

     "(2)  Assault in the second degree is a class [C] B felony."

     SECTION 4.  Section 707-712, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "(2)  Assault in the third degree is a [misdemeanor] class C felony unless committed in a fight or scuffle entered into by mutual consent, in which case it is a [petty] misdemeanor."

     SECTION 5.  Section 708-810, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (3) to read as follows:

     "(3)  Burglary in the first degree is a class [B] A felony."

     SECTION 6.  Section 708-811, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (2) to read as follows:

     "(2)  Burglary in the second degree is a class [C] B felony."

     SECTION 7.  Section 708-820, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (2) to read as follows:

     "(2)  Criminal property damage in the first degree is a class [B] A felony."

     SECTION 8.  Section 708-821, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (2) to read as follows:

     "(2)  Criminal property damage in the second degree is a class [C] B felony."

     SECTION 9.  Section 708-822, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (2) to read as follows:

     "(2)  Criminal property damage in the third degree is a [misdemeanor.] class C felony."

     SECTION 10.  Section 708-823.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (3) to read as follows:

     "(3)  Aggravated criminal property damage is a [misdemeanor.] class C felony."

     SECTION 11.  Section 708-830.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (2) to read as follows:

     "(2)  Theft in the first degree is a class [B] A felony."

     SECTION 12.  Section 708-831, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (2) to read as follows:

     "(2)  Theft in the second degree is a class [C] B felony.  A person convicted of committing the offense of theft in the second degree under subsection (1)(c) and (d) shall be sentenced in accordance with chapter 706, except that for the first offense, the court may impose a minimum sentence of a fine of at least $1,000 or two-fold damages sustained by the victim, whichever is greater."

     SECTION 13.  Section 708-832, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (2) to read as follows:

     "(2)  Theft in the third degree is a [misdemeanor.] class C felony."

     SECTION 14.  This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.

     SECTION 15.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 16.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

 

 


 


 

Report Title:

Criminal Penalties; Assault; Burglary; Criminal Property Damage; Theft

 

Description:

Increases certain penalties for the crimes of assault, burglary, criminal property damage, and theft by one grade.

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.