HI HB1054

Grants sentencing courts discretion to impose prison sentences of appropriate length for defendants convicted of class B or C felony drug offenses under Hawaii Revised Statutes chapter 712, part IV, rather than automatically imposing mandatory minimum sentences.

For class B felony drug convictions, allows sentences of 10 years or less (instead of mandatory 10 years); for class C felony drug convictions, allows sentences of 5 years or less (instead of mandatory 5 years).

Provides that defendants previously convicted of drug offenses under part IV of chapter 712 have a one-time right to petition the original sentencing court for sentence reduction review by July 1, 2015.

Excludes defendants sentenced under specified statutes (706-606.5, 706-660.1, 712-1240.5, 712-1240.7, 712-1240.8, 712-1249.6, and 712-1257) from discretionary sentencing provisions.

Effective date: July 1, 2013.