HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2622
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to FIREARMS.

 

 

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

 

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the State's gun buyback program offers residents a safe way to dispose of unwanted or unlawful firearms, including automatic firearms; semi-automatic rifles; and unregulated, unserialized "ghost guns".  The program offers participants up to $200 in Foodland Farms gift cards in exchange for each firearm and allows the firearm owner to remain anonymous.  The program's goal is to allow law enforcement officers to properly dispose of the weapons and to reduce the number of firearms in the State that could be used for criminal activities.  In November 2023, a gun buyback event on the island of Oahu collected nearly five hundred firearms.  The program also offers free gun locks to help support the safe storage of guns in the home.  The legislature believes that gun buyback program will help reduce firearm-related assaults and suicides, and gun-related accidents involving children.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to appropriate moneys to the department of law enforcement for the State's gun buyback program.

     SECTION 2.  In accordance with section 9 of article VII, of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii and sections 37-91 and 37-93, Hawaii Revised Statutes, the legislature has determined that the appropriation contained in this Act will cause the state general fund expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2024-2025 to be exceeded by $          , or         per cent.  The reasons for exceeding the general fund expenditure ceiling are that the appropriation made in this Act is necessary to serve the public interest and to meet the need provided for by this Act.

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 to support the State's gun buyback program.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of law enforcement for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2024.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

DLE; Gun Buyback; Appropriation; General Fund Expenditure Ceiling Exceeded

 

Description:

Appropriates an unspecified sum to the Department of Law Enforcement for the State's gun buyback program.  Declares that the appropriation exceeds the state general fund expenditure ceiling for 2024-2025.

 

 

 

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