STAND. COM. REP. NO. 128-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 2230

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 2230 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the Law Enforcement Standards Board to develop, and each department employing law enforcement officers to implement, a structured Health Intervention Program to support law enforcement officers' physical and mental health.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Wellness and Resilience; State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers; and two individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Law Enforcement.

Your Committee finds that law enforcement officers are exposed to various stressors that make them more vulnerable to the onset of mental health disorders. According to research, when law enforcement officers are provided with mental health support programs, there is an overall improvement in wellness. This measure would enable law enforcement officers to increase their mental health literacy and gain skills needed to manage stressors and obligations at work and in other domains of life.

Your Committee notes that this measure requires the Law Enforcement Standards Board to develop the Health Intervention Program within an unspecified number of days after its effective date. The Department of Law Enforcement will work with the Law Enforcement Standards Board to determine the appropriate number of days so that this measure can be amended as it moves through the legislative process.

Your Committee encourages the Department of Law Enforcement to also work with the Office of Wellness and Resilience to move forward on their program.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2230, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2230, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair