REPORT TITLE:
Public Safety; Canine Corps


DESCRIPTION:
Requires the establishment of a canine corps in the Department of
Public Safety.  (SD2)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                        
THE SENATE                              S.B. NO.           223
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 1999                                S.D. 2
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________


                   A  BILL  FOR  AN  ACT

RELATING TO A CANINE CORPS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY.



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

 1      SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the availability of
 
 2 illegal drugs in state correctional facilities continues to be a
 
 3 problem for prison administrators.  In the Maui correctional
 
 4 facility alone, fifty-six of its four hundred inmates tested
 
 5 positive for methamphetamine (ice).  Inmate drug use is
 
 6 detrimental not only to effective prison administration, but also
 
 7 to the addicted inmate who is doomed to recidivism.
 
 8      A possible solution to this problem involves the use of
 
 9 canine units by corrections authorities.  Dogs can be effectively
 
10 trained to control, if not eliminate, illegal drugs in prisons.
 
11 Dogs can be utilized in the screening of supplies, vehicles,
 
12 prisoners, and prison personnel entering or exiting a prison.
 
13 Dogs can also be used to secure a prison's perimeter and locate
 
14 trespassers on prison property.
 
15      The estimated cost of a trained canine is between $3,000 to
 
16 $5,000.  The preferred breeds of dog in this line of duty are the
 
17 German Shepherd and the Belgian Malinois.  The dogs have an
 
18 average working life of approximately eight years.  The dogs must
 
19 also be trained and certified over an eight to twelve week period
 

 
Page 2                                                     
                                     S.B. NO.           223
                                                        S.D. 2
                                                        

 
 1 and recertified annually.
 
 2      The purpose of this Act is to establish a canine corps in
 
 3 the department of public safety to assist in the administration
 
 4 of correctional facilities.  The canine corps will be most
 
 5 appropriately placed in the law enforcement division of the
 
 6 department of public safety.
 
 7      SECTION 2.  Chapter 353C, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
 
 8 amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated
 
 9 and to read as follows:
 
10      "§353C-     Canine corps.  The director shall establish a
 
11 canine corps in the department to implement the department's
 
12 policies, programs, and objectives.  The director, pursuant to
 
13 rules adopted under chapter 91, shall develop criteria and
 
14 policies to select, train, and maintain the canine corps.  The
 
15 director shall also select, train, and assign personnel to handle
 
16 the canine corps.  Units of the canine corps shall be assigned to
 
17 correctional facilities and duties as determined by the director;
 
18 provided that the animals in the corps need not be used solely
 
19 for corrections related purposes."
 
20      SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general
 
21 revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $       , or so much
 
22 thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 1999-2000, and the
 
23 same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year
 

 
Page 3                                                     
                                     S.B. NO.           223
                                                        S.D. 2
                                                        

 
 1 2000-2001, for the purposes of establishing and maintaining a
 
 2 canine corps in the department of public safety.
 
 3      SECTION 4.  The sum appropriated shall be expended by the
 
 4 department of public safety for the purposes of this Act.
 
 5      SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 1999.