STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2949

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 2460

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 2460, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to help the recruitment of personnel for law enforcement positions within state government and standardize law enforcement training among various state departments and agencies by establishing and appropriating funds for a state law enforcement training academy within the Department of Public Safety to train candidates for the law enforcement positions of the State.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from fourteen individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Public Safety and one individual.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

     Your Committee finds that a uniform standard of employment and training for state law enforcement officers would benefit state law enforcement agencies and departments, as well as the general public.  Although an academy providing a basic foundation of standardized training would be valuable for law enforcement officers and facilitate the recruitment of new officers, your Committee finds that the various law enforcement agencies and departments of the State perform different functions and require specialized training unique to the respective agencies.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by removing the language of the original measure and inserting the language of S.B. No. 2755, S.D. 1, Regular Session of 2016, which:

     (1)  Establishes an Advisory Law Enforcement Employment Standards and Training Board;

     (2)  Requires the Advisory Board to develop and propose statewide employment standards and training for state and county law enforcement officers who wear badges and carry firearms;

     (3)  Allows state and county law enforcement agencies and departments to voluntary implement the standards recommended by the Advisory Board; and

     (4)  Includes an effective date of January 7, 2059, and a repeal date of June 30, 2021.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2460, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2460, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committees on Judiciary and Labor and Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs,

________________________________

CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair