Source: https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2015/bills/SB596_.htm
Timestamp: 2020-02-26 07:53:30
Document Index: 387999412

Matched Legal Cases: ['§329', '§329', '§329', '§329', '§329', '§329', '§329', '§329', '§329', '§329', '§604', '§712']

SB596.DOC
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that certain state policies should be revised in response to our current economic climate. One of these policies relates to criminal offenses that prohibit the possession of one ounce or less of marijuana. The legislature finds that the benefits of establishing a civil violation for the possession of small amounts of marijuana outweigh the benefits of the current criminal treatment of this offense.
The legislature further finds that the costs to enforce criminal marijuana possession statutes are substantial. According to a report entitled The Budgetary Implications of Marijuana Decriminalization and Legalization for Hawai‘i, which was completed in December of 2012 by David C. Nixon, an economist from the University of Hawaii, state and county law enforcement agencies spent $9,300,000 in 2011 to enforce marijuana possession laws. Meanwhile, a recent scientific survey of registered voters in the State conducted by Qmark Research in 2014 found that 63 per cent of those surveyed favored making possession and personal use of marijuana a civil violation instead of a crime, and 60 per cent favored outright legalization of marijuana. The decriminalization study indicates that less than 2 per cent of all arrests in Hawaii between the years of 1997 and 2004 were for marijuana possession. Furthermore, of the misdemeanor marijuana drug cases brought in district court, approximately 65 per cent are dismissed, stricken, or not prosecuted. A relatively small proportion, approximately 25 per cent, result in convictions. As the decriminalization study concludes: "Few [of those arrested for marijuana possession] are actually prosecuted under the law, fewer convicted, and virtually none serve jail time. Of those convicted, probation is the usual sentence for first time offenders." Clearly, although the cost to enforce marijuana possession laws is substantial, the resulting conviction rate is low.
The legislature finds that the low conviction and arrest rates do not act as a deterrent to marijuana users. The decriminalization study compared the findings of a study surveying the number of households engaged in the regular use of marijuana with actual arrest rates. The results of this comparison indicate that the risk of arrest is between 1.54 per cent and 2.16 per cent in any given year for members of households in which there is regular marijuana use. According to the decriminalization study, the chance of a marijuana user being arrested and convicted is approximately 0.4 per cent. It is clear that the arrest and conviction risks associated with marijuana use do not act as a deterrent to marijuana use, and few of those who use marijuana on a regular basis experience the consequences of these risks, notwithstanding the costs to enforce the criminal statutes prohibiting such conduct.
Some states have passed laws decriminalizing marijuana. Typically, decriminalization means no prison time or criminal record for first-time possession of a small amount for personal consumption. The conduct is treated like a minor traffic violation. According to the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, the following states have decriminalized possession of a small amount for personal consumption: Alaska, California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Two states, Colorado and Washington, have legalized the recreational use of cannabis following the approval of state referenda in the 2012 elections.
According to a report prepared by the Connecticut Law Revision Commission for the Judiciary Committee of the Connecticut General Assembly, studies of states that have reduced penalties for possession of small amounts of marijuana have found that:
(1) Expenses for arrests and prosecution of marijuana possession offenses were significantly reduced;
(2) If marijuana use increased, it increased less in states with reduced penalties when compared to states that did not reduce their penalties, and "the largest proportionate increase occurred in those states with the most severe penalties"; and
(3) Reducing the penalties for marijuana possession has virtually no effect on either the choice or frequency of use of alcohol or illegal "harder" drugs such as cocaine.
In Hawaii county, a voter initiative was passed in 2008 by a majority of 35,000 voters that directs county law enforcement officials to treat the "adult personal use" of marijuana as its lowest law enforcement priority and prohibits the county from accepting or expending funds for the marijuana eradication program and for enforcing potential offenses for the adult personal use of marijuana.
The legislature further finds that the costs associated with criminal prosecution for possession of small amounts of marijuana are extremely high in relation to the benefits of prosecuting those offenses. The establishment of
a civil penalty not to exceed $100 for possession of one ounce or less of marijuana, and a corresponding adjudicatory process for these violations, would greatly reduce the costs for prosecution and enforcement of marijuana possession while increasing fines collected for this violation.
By making possession of one ounce or less of marijuana a civil violation, the legislature does not intend to imply that such possession is acceptable. Possession of one ounce or less of marijuana is still prohibited conduct under this Act; it will simply be handled in a different, more appropriate manner. Moreover, this Act does not amend laws regarding driving under the influence of marijuana or other criminal infractions committed under the influence or infractions pertaining to sales or manufacturing. This Act also does not amend laws regarding the use of marijuana for medical purposes.
The purpose of this Act is to make the possession of one ounce or less of marijuana a civil violation subject to a fine of not more than $100.
"Part . Civil Violations for limited use of Marijuana
§329-A Definitions. As used in this part, unless the context requires otherwise:
"Notice of violation" means a notice of violation described in section 329-C.
§329-B Possession of marijuana. (a) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the intentional or knowing possession by a person eighteen years of age or older of one ounce or less of marijuana, any mixture or preparation of marijuana, or the paraphernalia to prepare and consume marijuana or any mixture or preparation of marijuana shall constitute a civil violation subject to a fine not to exceed $100.
(b) Civil fines and penalties for violations under this section shall be deposited into the general fund.
§329-C Notice; form; determination final unless contested. (a) A notice of violation of section 329-B shall include the summons for the purposes of this section. Whenever a notice of violation is issued to a person, the person's signature and current address shall be noted on the notice. If the person refuses to sign the notice of violation, the officer shall record this refusal on the notice and issue the notice to the person. Individuals to whom a notice of violation is issued under this section need not be arraigned before the court, unless required by rule of the supreme court.
(1) A statement of the total amount of the fine to be paid by the person;
(2) A statement of the options provided in section 329-D for answering the notice and the procedures necessary to exercise the options;
(3) A statement that the person to whom the notice is issued must answer, choosing one of the options specified in section 329-D, within twenty-one days of issuance of the notice;
(4) A statement that failure to answer the notice of violation within twenty-one days of issuance shall result in the entry of judgment by default for the State and may result in the assessment of a late penalty and that if the person to whom the notice was issued fails to pay the total amount specified in the default judgment within an additional thirty days or to otherwise take action to set aside the default, the person shall be subject to section 706-647;
(5) A statement that, at a hearing conducted pursuant to section 329-F to contest the notice of violation, no officer shall be present unless the person timely requests the court to have the officer present, and that the standard of proof to be applied by the court is whether a preponderance of the evidence proves that the specified violation was committed;
§329-D Answer required. (a) A person who receives a notice of violation shall answer the notice within twenty-one days of the date of issuance of the notice. There shall be included with the notice of violation a preaddressed envelope directed to the clerk of the applicable district court.
(b) If the notice of violation does not require an appearance in person at a hearing, a person shall have the following options in answering a notice of violation:
(A) By mail or in person, by completing the appropriate portion of the notice of violation or preaddressed envelope and submitting it to the authority specified on the notice together with payment of the total fine amount stated on the notice of violation; provided that payment by mail shall be in the form of a check, money order, or by an approved credit or debit card; provided further that payment in person shall be in the form of United States currency, check, money order, or by an approved credit or debit card; or
(2) Deny the commission of the violation and request a hearing to contest the violation by completing the appropriate portion of the notice of violation or preaddressed envelope and submitting it, either by mail or in person, to the authority specified on the notice. A denial may include assertion of affirmative defenses, including that the person is duly registered with the department of health pursuant to section 329‑123 and asserts the medical use of marijuana as an affirmative defense pursuant to section 329-125. In lieu of appearing in person at a hearing, the person may submit a written statement of grounds on which the person contests the notice of violation, which shall be considered by the court as a statement given in court pursuant to section 329-F(a).
§329-E Court action after answer or failure to answer. (a) When an admitting answer is received, the court shall enter judgment in favor of the State in the total amount specified in the notice of violation. If the total amount is not submitted with the answer, the court may take action as provided in this part.
(b) When a denying answer is received, the court shall notify the person in writing of the date, time, and place of hearing to contest the notice of violation. The notice of hearing shall be mailed to the address stated in the denying answer, or if none is given, to the address stated on the notice of violation. The notification also shall advise the person that, if the person fails to appear at the hearing, the court shall enter judgment by default in favor of the State, as of the date of the scheduled hearing, that the total amount specified in the default judgment must be paid within thirty days of entry of default judgment, and if it is not paid, that the court shall take action as provided in this part.
(c) If the person fails to answer within twenty-one days of issuance of the notice of violation, the court shall enter a judgment by default in favor of the State as provided in subsection (d).
(d) Whenever judgment by default in favor of the State is entered, the court shall mail a notice of entry of default judgment to the address provided by the person when the notice of violation was issued. The notice of entry of default judgment shall advise the person that the total amount specified in the default judgment shall be paid within thirty days of entry of default judgment and shall explain the procedure for setting aside a default judgment. The notice of entry of default judgment shall also inform the person that if the total amount is not paid within thirty days, the court shall take action as provided in this part.
Upon receipt of the application and required appearance bond, the court shall take action to pursuant to section 329-F Thereafter, the court shall determine whether good cause or excusable neglect exists for the person's failure to take action necessary to prevent entry of judgment by default. If so, the application to set aside default judgment shall be granted, the default judgment shall be set aside, and the notice of violation shall be disposed of pursuant to this chapter. If not, the application to set aside default judgment shall be denied, the appearance bond shall be forfeited and applied to satisfy amounts due under the default judgment, and the notice of violation shall be finally disposed. In either case, the court shall determine the existence of good cause or excusable neglect and notify the person of its decision on the application in writing.
§329-F Hearings. (a) In proceedings to contest a notice of violation where the person to whom the notice was issued has timely requested a hearing and appears at such hearing:
(4) After due consideration of the evidence and arguments, if any, the court shall determine whether commission of the violation has been established. Where the commission of the violation has not been established, judgment in favor of the defendant, dismissing the notice of violation or any count therein with prejudice, shall be entered in the record. Where it has been established that the violation was committed, the court shall enter judgment in favor of the State and shall assess a monetary assessment pursuant to section 329-B. The court also shall inform the person of the right to request a trial pursuant to section 329-I.
(b) If a person for whom a hearing has been scheduled to contest the notice of violation or to assert affirmative defenses fails to appear at the hearing, the court shall enter judgment by default for the State and take action as provided in this part. If the total amount of the monetary assessment, fees, surcharges, or costs is not paid within thirty days of entry of default judgment, the court shall take action as provided in this part.
§329-G Failure to pay fine. When the person issued a notice of violation fails to pay the total amount of the fine, the fine may be collected in the same manner as a judgment in a civil action. The State may collect the fee or fine, including costs, interest, and attorney's fees pursuant to section 706‑647.
§329-H Time computation. In computing any period of time prescribed or allowed by sections 329-A to 329-I, the day of the act, event, or default from which the period of time begins to run shall not be included. The last day of the period so computed shall be included, unless it is a Saturday, Sunday, or state holiday in which event the period runs until the end of the next day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or state holiday. Intermediate Saturdays, Sundays, and state holidays shall be included. Whenever an act required to be performed under this chapter may be accomplished by mail, the act shall be deemed to have been performed on the date of the postmark on the mailed article.
§329-I Trial and concurrent trial. (a) There shall be no right to trial unless the defendant contests the notice of violation. If, after proceedings to contest the notice of violation, a determination is made that the defendant committed the violation, judgment shall enter in favor of the State. The defendant may request a trial pursuant to the Hawaii rules of evidence and the rules of the district court; provided that any request for trial shall be made within thirty days of entry of judgment. If, after appearing in person at a hearing to contest the notice of violation, the person requests a trial at the conclusion of the hearing, the court shall provide the person with a trial date as soon as practicable.
(c) If a trial on the violation is held prior to a trial on any related criminal offense, the following shall be inadmissible in the subsequent prosecution or trial of the related criminal offense:
(1) Any written or oral statement made by the defendant in proceedings conducted pursuant to this part; and
§329-J (a) The supreme court may adopt rules of procedure for the conduct of all proceedings pursuant to this chapter.
(b) Chapter 626 shall not apply in proceedings conducted pursuant to this chapter, except for the rules governing privileged communications, and in proceedings conducted under this part.
(c) Notwithstanding section 604-17, while the court is sitting in any matter pursuant to this chapter, the court shall not be required to preserve the testimony or proceedings, except proceedings conducted under this part and proceedings in which the violation is heard on the same date and time as any related criminal offense.
(d) The prosecuting attorney shall not participate in violation proceedings conducted pursuant to this chapter, except proceedings conducted under this part and proceedings in which a related criminal offense is scheduled for arraignment, hearing, or concurrent trial.
SECTION 3. Chapter 604, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§604- Enforcement of civil violations for marijuana possession. Jurisdiction is conferred upon the district courts to try all cases arising from the violation of section 329-B and to impose the penalties prescribed for a violation under 329-B. Jurisdiction is in the district court of the circuit where the alleged violation occurred."
SECTION 4. Section 302A-1002, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
SECTION 5. Section 329-125, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:
"(a) A qualifying patient or the primary caregiver may assert the medical use of marijuana as an affirmative defense to any prosecution, criminal or civil, involving marijuana under this [[]part[]], section 329-B, or chapter 712; provided that the qualifying patient or the primary caregiver strictly complied with the requirements of this part."
SECTION 6. Section 353-66, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (f) to read as follows:
"(f) The Hawaii paroling authority may require a paroled prisoner to undergo and complete a substance abuse treatment program when the paroled prisoner has committed a violation of the terms and conditions of parole involving possession or use, not including to distribute or manufacture as defined in section 712-1240, of any dangerous drug, detrimental drug, harmful drug, intoxicating compound, more than one ounce of marijuana, or marijuana concentrate, as defined in section 712-1240, unlawful methamphetamine trafficking in the first degree as provided in section 712-1240.7 or in the second degree as provided in section 712-1240.8, or involving possession or use of drug paraphernalia under section 329-43.5. If the paroled prisoner fails to complete the substance abuse treatment program or the Hawaii paroling authority determines that the paroled prisoner cannot benefit from any substance abuse treatment program, the paroled prisoner shall be subject to revocation of parole and return to incarceration. As a condition of parole, the Hawaii paroling authority may require the paroled prisoner to:
SECTION 7. Section 706-625, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (7) to read as follows:
SECTION 8. Section 712-1240, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending the definition of "detrimental drug" to read as follows:
""Detrimental drug" means any substance or immediate precursor defined or specified as a "Schedule V substance" by chapter 329, or any marijuana [.]; provided that one ounce or less of marijuana shall not be deemed a detrimental drug under section 712-1251 or 712-1255."
(b) Possesses one or more preparations, compounds, mixtures, or substances, of an aggregate weight of one-eighth ounce or more, containing one or more of the Schedule V substances;
SECTION 11. Section 712-1255, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"§712-1255 Conditional discharge. (1) Whenever any person who has not previously been convicted of any offense under this chapter or chapter 329, except for a civil violation under section 329-B, or under any statute of the United States or of any state relating to a dangerous drug, harmful drug, detrimental drug, or an intoxicating compound, pleads guilty to or is found guilty of promoting a dangerous drug, harmful drug, detrimental drug, or an intoxicating compound under section 712‑1243, 712-1245, 712-1246, 712-1248, 712-1249, or 712-1250, the court, without entering a judgment of guilt and with the consent of the accused, may defer further proceedings and place the accused on probation upon terms and conditions. Upon violation of a term or condition, the court may enter an adjudication of guilt and proceed as otherwise provided.
(5) After conviction, for any offense under this chapter or chapter 329, except for a conviction of a civil violation under section 329-B, but prior to sentencing, the court shall be advised by the prosecutor whether the conviction is defendant's first or a subsequent offense. If it is not a first offense, the prosecutor shall file an information setting forth the prior convictions. The defendant shall have the opportunity in open court to affirm or deny that the defendant is identical with the person previously convicted. If the defendant denies the identity, sentence shall be postponed for such time as to permit the trial, before a jury if the defendant has a right to trial by jury and demands a jury, on the sole issue of the defendant's identity with the person previously convicted.
(6) For purposes of this section, a conviction for one or more civil violations under section 329-B shall not constitute a prior offense that would make a conditional discharge described in this section unavailable to the defendant."
Establishes a civil violation for possession by a person 18 years of age or older of one ounce or less of marijuana that is subject to a fine of not more than $100, and establishes an adjudicatory structure for its enforcement. Deletes reporting requirements of board of education for students possessing one ounce or less of marijuana. Clarifies that medical marijuana patients and primary caregiver may assert affirmative defense to prosecution, criminal or civil, involving possession of one ounce or less of marijuana. Excludes possession of one ounce or less of marijuana from authority of Hawaii paroling authority to require paroled prisoner to undergo and complete substance abuse treatment. Excludes possession of more than one ounce of marijuana from authority of courts to require a defendant to undergo and complete substance abuse treatment for probation violation. Clarifies definition of detrimental drug to exclude one ounce or less of marijuana. Excludes possession of one ounce or less of marijuana from offenses of promoting a detrimental drug in the second degree and third degree. Clarifies a civil violation for possession of marijuana does not constitute a prior offense for purposes of the conditional discharge law.