Criminal Justice

SB 2253 updates the "negligent injury in the first degree" offense to explicitly include injuries caused by drivers operating vehicles while intoxicated. This change directly affects drivers who cause injury to others while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The bill modifies the legal definition so that such incidents are prosecuted under this specific charge, ensuring they are treated as deliberate negligence under existing law. It does not change penalty levels but clarifies that intoxicated driving causing injury falls within this offense.

Establishes the Hawaii Center for Policing and Criminal Justice Research within the Social Science Research Institute, College of Social Sciences, University of Hawaii at Manoa to house the Hawaii Crime Lab. Requires law enforcement agencies and law enforcement oversight agencies to collect and report certain data regarding law enforcement stops, uses of force, and complaints to the Hawaii Crime Lab. Requires the Hawaii Crime Lab to collect and publish incident-level information and an annual report on the data collected. Requires the Department of the Attorney General to adopt rules, in coordination with the Hawaii Crime Lab, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and any community advisory boards. Appropriates funds for the establishment and operation of the Hawaii Center for Policing and Criminal Justice Research within the Social Science Research Institute, College of Social Sciences, University of Hawaii at Manoa to support implementation. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Authorizes the Department of Education to retain private counsel to represent a sports official in certain civil proceedings to obtain a temporary restraining order in response to incidences where the sports official has been assaulted or threatened in the course of legally discharging their sports official duties. Includes substantial bodily injury of a sports official engaged in the lawful discharge of the sports official's duties in the offense of assault in the first degree. Clarifies that a sports official includes a school administrator, league administrator, or athletics director. Clarifies that a sports official's duties cover sports events at public schools and private schools. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

HB 387 amends a specific criminal offense to explicitly include cases where drivers cause serious bodily injuries while driving under the influence. This change directly affects intoxicated drivers who cause accidents resulting in injury. The bill updates the legal definition of "negligent injury in the first degree" to cover injuries negligently inflicted by drivers who are intoxicated. This makes it a clearer criminal violation for causing harm while driving impaired. The amendment provides a more direct legal pathway for prosecuting such incidents.

HB 1387 lowers the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit for driving under the influence of any intoxicant (including alcohol or drugs). It directly affects drivers operating vehicles by making it illegal to drive with a BAC above the new, lower threshold. The bill establishes a specific BAC limit (not specified in the abstract) that will replace the current standard, effective July 1, 3000. This is a concrete policy change to strengthen DUI enforcement, not a procedural or commemorative measure.