Tough Crime Bills Now Moving To State Senate

Thielen’s Turf…Rep. Cynthia Thielen

Editor’s note: The article below is from a press release issued by Rep. Cynthia Thielen’s office.

This legislative session, state Rep. Cynthia Thielen cosponsored a variety of bills designed to help protect vulnerable communities from criminals. The state House echoed her tough stance on crime by passing

HB2080, HB1750 and HB2205. These bills, all co-introduced or supported by Thielen, will now go to the state Senate for consideration.

Increasing crime has been a major concern in District 50 (Kailua, Kaneohe Bay), and Kailua Neighborhood Board will host a crime forum at 7 p.m. Thursday at Kailua District Park to address the problem and suggest possible solutions.

HB2080 would classify theft of personal electronic devices that may be used to store or retrieve personal information as a class C felony. Devices are defined as a personal, laptop or tablet computer; cellular phone; personal digital assistant or any other device capable of storing personal information.

“Protecting our identity is of the upmost importance,” said Thielen, “because when we prevent criminals from stealing our names, we also eliminate their ability to obtain resources and commit additional crimes. In particular, HB2080 protects our kupuna, who are very vulnerable to identity theft and often trust a variety of people to handle personal affairs.”

The House also voted to further protect individual privacy by passing HB1750.

This bill establishes the criminal offense of unlawful distribution of sexual representation in order to prohibit the unconsented reproduction of a person engaging in sexual conduct. HB1750 will disincentivize persons from inappropriately revealing the private lives of others and allow expression without the fear of public exposure.

HB2205 also received strong support in the House. This bill ensures that habitual property crime offenders are sentenced to an indefinite prison term of five years and does not allow offenders to skirt by with probation. Rep. Thielen said that she strongly supports HB2205 because the bill will prevent criminals from prematurely re-entering society to commit more crimes.

“HB2080, HB1750 and HB2205 are critical bills to not only protect our identity and privacy, but to also ensure repeat offenders are duly punished,” she said, “now is the time to take back our neighborhoods by taking a tougher stance on crime.”

Contact state Rep. Cynthia Thielen, R-District 50 (Kailua, Kaneohe Bay), at 586-6480 or email repthielen@capitol.hawaii.gov.