This bill extends the sunset date for Hawaii's habitual violent crime law, originally set to expire in 2027, to June 30, 2031. It requires the attorney general to submit annual reports to the legislature starting in 2027, detailing statistics on arrests, charges, and case outcomes for repeat violent offenders without revealing personal information. Additionally, the bill mandates a one-time comprehensive evaluation by the Criminal Justice Research Institute by 2031 to assess the law's effectiveness in reducing violent crime before it is allowed to expire. These changes ensure that policymakers have sufficient data to determine whether the enhanced penalties for repeat offenders should be made permanent or adjusted.
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)
Raises the minimum age to enter into marriage from sixteen to eighteen years of age. Repeals the authority of parents and the family court to consent to a minor's marriage. Repeals spousal cohabitation after the parties attain legal age as an exception for an annulment based on nonage. Repeals exemptions for sexual assault of a minor if the perpetrator is married to the minor. Makes conforming amendments. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)
HB 1758 removes the requirement that prosecutors prove a perpetrator knew an elderly victim was vulnerable due to age in felony assault cases. This change directly affects elderly crime victims and prosecutors handling assault cases where the victim's age is a factor. The bill simplifies prosecution by allowing felony assault charges to be filed based solely on the victim's age, without needing to establish the perpetrator's knowledge of that age. It modifies the legal standard for aggravated assaults against elderly individuals.
SB 2886 adds third- and fourth-degree sexual assault to the list of crimes with no statute of limitations for prosecution. This means prosecutors can file charges for these specific sexual assault offenses at any time, regardless of how much time has passed since the crime occurred. The bill directly affects victims of these crimes by removing time barriers for legal action and impacts prosecutors by expanding their ability to pursue cases. It does not change other crime categories or introduce new penalties, only extending the timeframe for prosecution of these particular offenses.
SB 2252 changes how felony assaults involving elderly victims are prosecuted. Currently, prosecutors must prove the attacker knew the victim was elderly to charge the assault as aggravated. This bill removes that requirement, making it a felony assault simply because the victim is elderly, regardless of the attacker's knowledge. It directly affects elderly crime victims, prosecutors, and courts handling such cases. The bill is currently in committee referral after its first reading.
HB 2035 removes time limits for prosecuting third and fourth-degree sexual assault offenses. This means prosecutors can file charges at any time, regardless of when the crime occurred, directly affecting victims of these assaults and law enforcement. The bill amends existing law to explicitly include these assault degrees in the list of offenses without a statute of limitations. It does not change penalties or create new offenses, only extending the window for prosecution. This is a policy change focused on legal accessibility, not on new criminal definitions.
HB 2085 removes a legal requirement that prosecutors must prove a perpetrator specifically intended to target an older adult during a felony assault. This change directly affects older adults (typically age 65+) who are victims of assault, making it easier to charge such assaults as felonies. The bill simplifies prosecution by eliminating the need to demonstrate the defendant's "state of mind" regarding the victim's age, meaning prosecutors can now pursue felony assault charges based solely on the victim's age without proving intent. This is a policy change to strengthen legal protections for elderly crime victims.
