STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2918

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2645

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Ways and Means and Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 2645, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO COMPLIANCE ON HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish within the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands a compliance and enforcement program on Hawaiian home lands to investigate complaints, conduct investigations, and cooperate with law enforcement authorities to ensure compliance with applicable laws.

Your Committees received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, a member of the Hawaiian Homes Commission, and God Forgives Bad Boys & Bad Girls.

Your Committees received written comments on this measure from the Department of Law Enforcement.

Your Committees find that safety and compliance with laws should be priorities in all communities, including homestead communities. Your Committees also find that law enforcement authorities' inconsistent responses to illegal activities occurring on Hawaiian home lands effectively helps perpetuate those activities. Your Committees believe that establishing compliance personnel with the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, and improving coordination between the Department and law enforcement authorities, are necessary.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the name of the new program to the "compliance program on Hawaiian home lands" and deleting certain provisions relating to law enforcement activities by the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and police powers of the Hawaiian Homes Commission;

(2) Specifying that mutual aid agreements developed by officers of the program and law enforcement authorities may include provisions for the latter to assist in the enforcement of laws on lands under the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands' jurisdiction;

(3) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

(4) Making technical nonsubstantive changes for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Ways and Means and Judiciary that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2645, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2645, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Ways and Means and Judiciary,

________________________________ KARL RHOADS, Chair

________________________________ DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair