Hawaii lawmakers up against deadline for Marsy’s Law
After a busy week passing hundreds of bills before a major deadline, Hawaii lawmakers are facing another cutoff to send the final form of constitutional amendments to the Governor’s Office.
Hawaii lawmakers have until Friday to send all bills that would amend the Hawaii State Constitution to the governor. That means lawmakers have less than a week to settle disagreements about bills and schedule dozens of proposals for conference committee, a two-week period at the end of the session when the Senate and House must agree to changes in legislation.
Hawaii lawmakers must settle differences on a proposal to establish constitutional rights for crime victims by Friday if it has a chance at becoming part of the Hawaii State Constitution. Also known as Marsy’s Law, the bill would require the state to inform victims and their immediate family of court proceedings and key developments in cases.
The law was named after Marsalee “Marsy” Nicholas, a University of California, Santa Barbara student who was stalked and killed by her ex-boyfriend in 1983. A week after Nicholas’ murder, her brother and mother ran into the suspect in a grocery store because authorities failed to notify them that the suspect had been released on bail.
Voters in California were the first to pass the law in 2008. Several states such as Georgia, Kentucky, North Dakota and South Dakota are considering similar bills this year.
The Hawaii bill was met by opposition from Hawaii Community Alliance on Prisons and the Hawaii American Civil Liberties Union, who say it could be hard to enforce the bill and it won’t actually address the needs of victims of crimes.
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Yet the bill was met largely with support from agencies and individuals including the Hawaii Attorney General’s Office, Crime Victim Compensation Commission and Kimberlyn Scott, whose 27-year-old daughter, Carly “Charli” Scott, was reported missing in February 2014.
Charli ex-boyfriend, Steven Capobianco, is charged with killing Scott and burning her vehicle to cover up the crime. Kimberlyn Scott said it is a challenge to stay informed of major developments in the case, and Marsy’s Law would ensure she was told about major developments such as Capobianco’s release or court dates.
“It could make a huge difference to others,” Scott said. “Maybe someone you love.”
5 responses to “Hawaii lawmakers up against deadline for Marsy’s Law”
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Whats the problem, pass the dang thing!
They passed hundreds of bills, but not this one, go figure.
I’d really appreciate hearing from our lawmakers why they are stalling, or refusing, Marsy’s Law. Who is telling them to let it rest, or what about the law is not being disclosed?
A really bad proposal. Of course, it is “a challenge to stay informed of major developments in the case”, but it is not as bad as trying to follow the Legislature. The Legislature is known for a lack of transparency and their belief that open government laws (sunshine, UIPA, conflicts of interest norms, etc.) don’t apply to them. They exempt themselves from all laws.
This is the problem – Hawaii Community Alliance on Prisons (COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY
Rep. Faye Hanohano, Chair) and the Hawaii American Civil Liberties (Union).
Faye Hanohano is chair for Hawaii Comm Alliance on Prisons. She caused an uproar when her office was not decorated with pictures by Hawaiian artists.
American Civil Liberties UNION. Well, anything with a Union causes grief.