Requires the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu to submit a report to the Legislature. Appropriates grant-in-aid moneys to the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu for the Victim Witness Assistance Program. (SD1)
By July 1, 2027, requires the Department of the Attorney General to develop a Human Trafficking Awareness Training Program to educate and train workers in the transient accommodations sector. Requires transient accommodations employers and transient accommodations third-party contractors to periodically provide the human trafficking awareness training to certain employees and contract workers and keep records of the training. By January 1, 2028, requires transient accommodations employers and transient accommodations third-party contractors to post signage regarding human trafficking awareness. By October 1, 2027, requires transient accommodations employers and transient accommodations third-party contractors to develop and implement a human trafficking prevention policy that includes procedures for the reporting of suspected human trafficking.
Increases the penalty for promoting minor-produced sexual images to a felony if the person is more than 3 years older than the minor. Extends the probationary term for felony obscenity offenses. Tolls the statute of limitations for obscenity offenses during a victim's minority. Requires sex offender registration for felony obscenity offenses involving minors. (SD1)
SB 2732 requires courts to consider a defendant's actual financial situation - not just a fixed bail amount - when determining pretrial release. It directly affects individuals detained before trial who cannot afford cash bail. The bill mandates judges to evaluate specific factors related to a defendant's ability to pay, such as income and assets. This aims to reduce pretrial detention based solely on wealth, rather than financial capacity.
Prohibits persons from operating a medical cannabis dispensary or cultivating cannabis without a license from the Department of Health. Prohibits individuals from providing certain services to individuals engaging in unlicensed cannabis operations. Requires the Department of Health to send a cease and desist notice to violators. Establishes criminal penalties. Establishes an affirmative defense for, and a conclusive basis for certain violations. Establishes exceptions. Establishes a cannabis cultivator license to authorize the cultivation and distribution of cannabis plants. Requires the Department of Health to only issue one cannabis cultivator license for each person. Establishes limits on: (1) the number of cannabis cultivator licenses the Department of Health may issue; (2) the maximum size of plant canopy for indoor and outdoor cultivations for each cannabis cultivator license; and (3) the maximum plant count of mature cannabis plants for each cannabis cultivator license. Authorizes expenditures from the Medical Cannabis Registry and Regulation Special Fund to fund programs for the mitigation and abatement of nuisances relating to chapter 329D, HRS. Appropriates funds out of the Medical Cannabis Registry and Regulation Special Fund for the Department of Attorney General to enforce, and mitigate nuisances relating to, chapter 329D, HRS. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD2)
Beginning July 1, 2025, extends the term of the Oversight Coordinator for the Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission. Clarifies that the Oversight Coordinator has the general authority to inspect agencies and correctional facilities without notice. (SD2)
SB 283 proposes increasing penalties for bribery offenses under specific circumstances, directly affecting individuals accused of bribery involving public officials or government actions. The bill would establish higher fines and longer prison sentences for bribery cases meeting defined conditions, such as when public funds or contracts are involved. This is a substantive policy change, not a procedural measure, and remains pending committee review (deferred to February 12, 2025). The bill has not yet been enacted into law and is currently under consideration in the Judiciary Committee.
Restricts civil asset forfeiture to cases involving the commission of a felony offense where the property owner has been convicted of an underlying felony offense. Directs forfeiture proceeds to the general fund. Amends the allowable expenses for moneys in the Criminal Forfeiture Fund. Requires the Attorney General to adopt rules necessary to carry out the purpose of the Hawaii Omnibus Criminal Forfeiture Act. Amends the deadline for the Attorney General to report to the Legislature on the use of the Hawaii Omnibus Criminal Forfeiture Act. Limits the transfer of certain forfeiture property to federal agencies. Establishes records requirements.
Requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to provide written notice to certain persons regarding the ability to file a claim for redress under applicable wrongful conviction law. Requires the liberal construction of that law. Changes the standard for a claim for compensation for wrongful imprisonment from actual innocence to grounds consistent with innocence. Provides for advance compensation for petitioners under certain circumstances. Requires the State to prove, for claims for compensation for wrongful imprisonment, that the reversal or vacating of the petitioner's conviction or pardoning of the petitioner was inconsistent with innocence. Requires reports to Legislature from the Department of the Attorney General. (SD1)
Establishes the right of a person to record law enforcement activities. Establishes a private right of action for any violation of the right to record law enforcement activities. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)
