STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2175

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 3009

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 3009 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Specify the responsibilities of the Department of Law Enforcement's Sheriff Division regarding judicial and legislative security; and

(2) Require the Sheriff Division to pursue, obtain, and maintain accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Judiciary and two individuals.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Law Enforcement.

Your Committee finds that public officials and employees increasingly face the risk of personal reprisal from individuals affected by decisions made in the exercise of their official duties, and that in Hawaii, threats and other inappropriate communications towards judges have increased tenfold and threats towards judiciary social workers providing probation oversight have increased ninefold over the last decade. According to testimony received by your Committee, the State Auditor has reported that the Sheriff Division has struggled to meet the needs of the State due to its lack of mission clarity. This measure will ensure adequate levels of security resources to protect legislative and judicial operations, employees, and the public.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an effective date of January 1, 2042, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3009, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3009, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committees on Ways and Means and Judiciary.

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

________________________________

GLENN WAKAI, Chair