Bill Text: HI HB2120 | 2016 | Regular Session | Introduced

Hawaii House Bill 2120 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Crime Victim Rights; Marsy's Law; Constitutional Amendment (ConAm)

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-01-27 - Referred to JUD, FIN, referral sheet 2 [HB2120 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2016-HB2120-Introduced.html

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2120
TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2016
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

Proposing an amendment to article I of constitution of the state of hawaii to establish rights for victims of crimes.

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that although those accused of crimes have various rights specified in article I, section 14, of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii, victims of crime and their survivors currently have few constitutional protections. The legislature further finds that victims of crime, whose injuries and losses provide the justification and responsibility of the State for criminal prosecution, should be treated with dignity, respect, and courtesy and their rights should be protected in a manner no less vigorous than those of the accused.

The legislature additionally finds that because Hawaii is one of eighteen states that do not have a victims' rights constitutional amendment, it should join the other states and amend its constitution to establish rights for victims of crime. The legislature notes that the proposed amendment does not diminish the rights of those accused or convicted. Rather, it offers a better balance between the rights of victims of crime and the rights of those accused or convicted.

The legislature therefore concludes that the Constitution of the State of Hawaii should be amended to guarantee that victims of crime and their surviving family members are afforded specific rights relating to information pertaining to and participation in the criminal justice system.

The purpose of this Act is to propose an amendment to article I, of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii to provide recognized and protected constitutional rights for victims of crime and their surviving family members, to be known as "Marsy's Law".

SECTION 2. Article I of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"RIGHTS OF VICTIMS OF CRIME

SECTION . Victims of crime or their surviving family members shall have the following rights beginning at the time of their victimization:

1. To be treated with courtesy, fairness and respect for their dignity and privacy throughout the criminal justice process;

2. To be reasonably protected from the accused and any person acting on behalf of the accused;

3. To be notified of and refuse requests for any private, privileged or confidential information or records;

4. To be informed of a victim's constitutional rights, available financial assistance and other services available for crime victims and witnesses;

5. To a speedy trial or disposition of the case;

6. To be notified in a reasonable, accurate and timely manner of all proceedings related to the criminal conduct, major developments in the case and final disposition of the case;

7. To be present at all proceedings related to the criminal conduct unless the court determines that the victim's testimony would be materially altered if the victim heard other testimony at that proceeding;

8. To be given reasonable, accurate and timely notice of any plea negotiation and given the opportunity to provide input to the prosecuting attorney prior to the finalization of the plea agreement;

9. To be given reasonable, accurate and timely notice of and offered the opportunity to participate and be heard in any plea or sentencing of the accused or any court proceeding in which a right of the victim is at issue or that may result in a post-arrest release decision;

10. To be notified in a reasonable, accurate and timely manner and to be offered the opportunity to participate and be heard in any process or deliberation that may result in the offender's post-conviction release from confinement, including any type of release by the department of public safety;

11. To provide information regarding the impact of the offender's conduct on the victim and the victim's family to the individual responsible for conducting any presentencing investigation or compiling any presentence report, and to have any such information considered in any sentencing submitted to the court;

12. To be notified in a reasonable, accurate and timely manner and to be heard regarding any developments relating to the release, discharge, escape or commitment, or the unauthorized absence of the accused or offender who was committed or involuntarily hospitalized;

13. To be notified in a reasonable, accurate and timely manner of the conviction, sentence, place and time of incarceration or other disposition and any changes in the accused's or offender's custodial status, including transfer between facilities, escape, furlough, work release, placement on supervised release, release on parole, release on bail bond, release on appeal bond, any type of release by the department of public safety and final discharge at the end of the prison term;

14. To have property expeditiously returned by law enforcement agencies when the property is no longer needed as evidence;

15. To full and timely restitution from the person or person convicted; and

16. To be informed of pardon and expungement procedures and to be able to provide information to the governor, the court, any pardon board and other authority involved in these procedures, and to have that information considered before a pardon or expungement decision is made and to be notified of such decision in advance of any release of the accused or offender.

ENFORCEMENT

The crime victim, the crime victim's lawful representative and the attorney for the State may assert the rights established by this section. A person accused or convicted of the crime may not obtain any form of relief established by this section.

The rights established by this section may be asserted in any trial or appellate court with jurisdiction over the case as a matter of right. The court shall act promptly upon the assertion of rights under this section.

In any appeal in a criminal case taken by the State or the convicted, the State may assert as error the court's denial of any crime victim's right in the proceeding to which the appeal relates.

The legislature shall have the power to enact laws to further define, implement and preserve the rights established by this section.

As used in this section:

"Surviving family members" means any spouse, parent, grandparent, child, sibling, grandchild, guardian or any person who has a relationship with the victim that is substantially similar to the listed relationships.

"Victim" means any person who suffers direct, proximate or threatened physical, psychological or financial harm as a result of the commission or attempted commission of a crime or against whom the crime is committed. "Victim" also includes the lawful representative of a victim who is a minor, incompetent or physically or mentally incapacitated. "Victim" does not include the accused or a person who the court finds would not act in the best interests of a deceased, incompetent, minor or incapacitated victim."

SECTION 3. The question to be printed on the ballot shall be as follows:

"Shall victims of crime and their surviving family members be afforded rights, including courteous, fair and respectful treatment throughout the criminal justice process; notification of critical proceedings, possible plea agreements and case dispositions; a speedy trial; the opportunity to be present at public proceedings; the opportunity to speak at the sentencing hearing; financial reimbursement from the offender; and notification of the offender's release from custody?"

SECTION 4. New constitutional material is underscored.

SECTION 5. This amendment shall take effect upon compliance with article XVII, section 3, of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

Crime Victim Rights; Marsy's Law; Constitutional Amendment

Description:

Proposes a constitutional amendment to guarantee rights to victims of crimes and their surviving family members.

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