STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3352

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 1539

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 1539, H.D. 2, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE SAFETY OF JUDICIARY PERSONNEL,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

 

     (1)  Prohibit the posting of judges' and other court staff's personal information on the internet with the intent to intimidate or threaten; and

 

     (2)  Establish a Judicial Security Task Force to review and recommend additional measures to enhance the security of judges and judiciary personnel.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Judiciary and Hawaii State Bar Association.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

 

     Your Committee finds that threats and inappropriate communications to judges and court personnel have escalated in recent years.  Your Committee further recognizes that, given the expanded availability of personal information of judges and judiciary staff through various sources, additional measures are needed to ensure the safety of judges and judiciary personnel.  This measure will prohibit the posting of personal information of judges and judiciary staff on the internet, which will minimize the risk of threats or violence to these individuals.

 

     Your Committee notes that the Judiciary, as a separate branch of government, has the ability to establish a task force on their own.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Removing the definition of "judiciary";

 

     (2)  Clarifying that the definition of "personal information" includes unpublished home telephone numbers;

 

     (3)  Specifying that the definition of "personal information" includes credit card information;

 

     (4)  Clarifying that the Judicial Security Task Force shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than forty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2023;

 

     (5)  Making it effective upon its approval; and

 

     (6)  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 Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1539, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1539, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

 


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

 

 

 

________________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair