Bill Text: HI HB2311 | 2024 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Relating To Crime.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Engrossed) 2024-03-07 - Referred to CPN, JDC. [HB2311 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2024-HB2311-Amended.html
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
2311 |
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024 |
H.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO CRIME.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
Pursuant to section 708-810, Hawaii Revised Statutes, burglary of a dwelling is a class B felony, regardless of the value of any property stolen or damaged or any other crime committed or attempted during the unlawful entry. The legislature notes with concern the frequent reluctance of county law enforcement and prosecutor's offices to investigate and prosecute burglaries of restricted parking and storage areas within apartment buildings and condominiums, despite the clear danger posed to the buildings' residents. The legislature also notes that, with respect to the burglary of a parking or storage area within a multi-unit dwelling, it is also the building's owner or condominium association whose property has been invaded and who may be in the best position to follow through with law enforcement agencies to provide evidence and cooperate with the prosecution of the crime.
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to:
(1) Clarify that the areas appurtenant to a multi-unit dwelling that are restricted to residents are included as dwellings for the purposes of prosecuting offenses under burglary in the first degree; and
(2) Allow the owner of a multi-unit building, owner of an individual unit, a property manager, or an authorized representative of the condominium association to act as a complainant for the purpose of investigating and prosecuting a burglary in the first degree in a multi-unit building.
SECTION 2. Section 708-800, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending the definition of "dwelling" to read as follows:
""Dwelling" means a building
[which], including a multi‑unit building, that is used or
usually used by a person or persons for lodging[.], and shall
include any clearly marked appurtenant parking or storage areas, access to
which is clearly restricted to residents by means of signage or security
apparatus, or both."
SECTION 3. Section 708-810, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"§708-810 Burglary in the first degree. (1) A
person commits the offense of burglary in the first degree if the person
intentionally enters or remains unlawfully in a building, with intent to commit
therein a crime against a person or against property rights, and:
(a) The person is armed with a dangerous instrument in the course of committing the offense;
(b) The person intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly inflicts or attempts to inflict bodily injury on anyone in the course of committing the offense; or
(c) The person recklessly disregards a risk that the building is the dwelling of another, and the building is such a dwelling.
(2) An act occurs "in the course of committing the offense" if it occurs in effecting entry or while in the building or in immediate flight therefrom.
(3)
In the case of a dwelling that is a multi-unit building, the owner of
the multi-unit building, owner of an individual unit, a property manager, or an
authorized representative of the condominium association may act as a
complainant.
[(3)] (4) Burglary in the first degree [is] shall
be a class B felony."
SECTION 4. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.
Report Title:
Burglary; Multi-Unit Building; Dwelling; Appurtenant; Restricted Areas
Description:
Clarifies that the areas appurtenant to a multi-unit dwelling that are restricted to residents are included as dwellings for the purposes of prosecuting offenses under burglary in the first degree. Allows the owner of a multi-unit building, owner of an individual unit, property manager, or an authorized representative of the condominium association to act as a complainant for the purpose of investigating and prosecuting a burglary in the first degree in a multi-unit building. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.