  Elections, prostitution, pot bills go forward  February 27,
2013 By ANITA HOFSCHNEIDER , The Associated Press   The bills
were some of a broad range of proposals that the committees
considered Tuesday addressing topics ranging from voter turnout
to leaf blowers.  The Senate judiciary committee approved a bill
Tuesday to make the possession of up to an ounce of marijuana a
civil offense, not a criminal one. Offenders would also pay a
$1,000 fine.  Thirteen of the state's 25 senators co-sponsored
the initiative. A separate bill to legalize marijuana in Hawaii
died in the House earlier this session.  Sen. Clayton Hee,
chairman of the Senate judiciary committee, said the purpose of
the bill is to help diminish the judicial backlog for marijuana
criminal cases. Hee said he wants to set the civil fine at
$1,000 to emphasize that the drug is still unlawful. He said
that currently people who are criminally prosecuted for
marijuana possession pay an average of just $100.  The Honolulu
Police Department testified tha