Bill Text: HI SB490 | 2018 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Relating To Material Witness Orders.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2017-11-30 - Carried over to 2018 Regular Session. [SB490 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2018-SB490-Amended.html

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THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	490
TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2017		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO MATERIAL WITNESS ORDERS.

 

 

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

 

     SECTION 1.  Section 835-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§835-2  Material witness order; when authorized; by what courts issuable; duration thereof.  (a)  A material witness order may be issued upon the ground that there is a reasonable cause to believe that a person whom the people or the defendant desire to call as a witness in a pending criminal action:

     (1)  Possesses information material to the determination of [[]the]]] action; and

     (2)  Will not be amenable or responsive to a subpoena at a time when the person's attendance will be sought.

     (b)  A material witness order may be issued only when:

     (1)  An indictment [or], information, or felony complaint has been filed in a circuit or family court and is currently pending therein;

     (2)  A grand jury proceeding has been commenced and is currently pending; or

     (3)  A felony complaint has been filed with a district court and is currently pending therein.

     (c)  The following courts may issue material witness orders under the indicated circumstances:

     (1)  When an indictment [has been filed], [an] information, or felony complaint has been filed, or a grand jury proceeding has been commenced, or a defendant has been held by a district or family court for the action of a grand jury, a material witness order may be issued only by the circuit or family court in which [[]the[]] indictment is pending or by which [[]the[]] grand jury has been or will be impaneled; or

     (2)  When a felony complaint is currently pending in a district court, a material witness order may be issued either by [said] that court or by the circuit or family court [which] that would have jurisdiction of the case upon indictment by the grand jury[.] or upon a finding of probable cause by a district court.

     (d)  Unless vacated pursuant to section 835-6, a material witness order remains in effect during the following periods of time under the indicated circumstances:

     (1)  An order issued by a circuit or family court under the circumstances prescribed in [[]subsection (c)(1)[]] remains in effect during the pendency of the criminal action in [[]the[]] circuit or family court; or

     (2)  An order issued by a district or family court under circumstances prescribed in [[]subsection (c)(2)[]], remains in effect[[]:[]]

         (A)  Until the disposition of the felony complaint pending in [[]the[]] court[[];[]]

         (B)  If the defendant is held for the action of the grand jury, during the pendency of the grand jury proceeding[[];[]]

         (C)  If an indictment results, for a period of ten days following the filing of [[]the[]] indictment[[];[]] and

         (D)  If within [[]the[]] ten-day period[[], the[]] order is endorsed by the circuit or family court in which the indictment [is] was pending, during the pendency of the action in [[]the[]] circuit or family court.  Upon [[]the[]] endorsement, the order is deemed to be that of the circuit or family court."

     SECTION 2.  This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.

     SECTION 3.  If any provision of this Act, or the application thereof to any person or circumstance, is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of the Act that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this Act are severable.

     SECTION 4.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect on January 7, 2059.

 

 

 

Report Title:

Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney Package; Material Witness Orders; Courts

 

Description:

Allows the circuit court or family court to issue a material witness order in cases initiated through felony complaint, indictment, or information.  Takes effect on 1/7/2059.  (SD1)

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.