Hawaii-2024-SB350-Introduced

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	350
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to criminal pretrial reform.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that there is a need to address the substantial and continued overcrowding of facilities used to house pretrial defendants.

The purpose of this Act is to eliminate the use of monetary bail and require defendants to be released on their own recognizance for traffic offenses, violations, nonviolent petty misdemeanor offenses, nonviolent misdemeanor offenses, and nonviolent class C felony offenses.

SECTION 2. Chapter 804, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§804- Monetary bail; nonviolent offenders. (a) Any defendant arrested, charged, and held for a traffic offense, violation, nonviolent petty misdemeanor offense, nonviolent misdemeanor offense, or nonviolent class C felony offense shall be ordered by the court to be released on the defendant's own recognizance at arraignment and plea conditioned upon:

(1) The defendant's appearance in court; and

(2) Any other least restrictive, non-monetary condition necessary to:

(A) Ensure the defendant's appearance in court; and

(B) Protect the public.

(b) This section shall not apply if:

(1) The offense involves:

(A) Assault;

(B) Terroristic threatening;

(D) Abuse of family or household members;

(E) Violation of a temporary restraining order;

(F) Violation of an order for protection;

(G) Violation of a restraining order or injunction;

(H) Operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant;

(I) Negligent homicide;

(J) A minor;

(K) Unauthorized entry into a dwelling; or

(L) Any other crime of violence; or

(2) One or more of the following apply:

(A) The defendant has a history of non-appearance in the last twenty-four months;

(B) The defendant has at least one prior conviction for a misdemeanor crime of violence or felony crime of violence within the last eight years;

(D) The defendant was on probation, parole, or conditional release at the time of arrest;

(E) The defendant is also concurrently charged with a violent petty misdemeanor, a violent misdemeanor, or any felony offense arising from the same or separate incident; or

(F) The defendant presents a risk of danger to any identifiable person or persons or to the community, including but not limited to a risk of infection.

(c) If any of the exceptions in subsection (b) apply, and the court finds no condition or combination of non-monetary conditions in section 804-7.1 will ensure the defendant's appearance or protect against specific threats of imminent harm to an identifiable person or persons or the community, bail may be set in a reasonable amount pursuant to section 804-9, taking into consideration the defendant's financial ability to afford bail. If the defendant is unable to post the amount of bail, the defendant shall be entitled to a prompt hearing under section 804-7.5. If the defendant is unable to post bail in the amount of $99 or less, the director of public safety may, in the director's discretion, release the defendant.

(d) This section shall neither preclude law enforcement from setting an initial bail before arraignment, nor prevent a court from determining bail or conditions of release at arraignment should an initial bail be set by law enforcement before arraignment."

SECTION 3. This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.

SECTION 4. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2023.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________