HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2230
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to law enforcement.

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that law enforcement officers in the State would benefit from having a standardized physical training program and destigmatized mental health support. Policing may regularly expose officers to violence, suffering, death, and disturbing situations, causing high levels of job-related stress. Consequently, law enforcement professions, including policing, are associated with high rates of divorce, alcoholism, suicide, post-traumatic stress disorder, heart attacks, and other mental and physical health problems. The potential stigma associated with seeking mental health assistance may prevent law enforcement officers from receiving help.

The legislature further finds that when law enforcement officers experience high levels of occupational stress, the stress also affects law enforcement agencies. The agencies may suffer from impaired officer performance, frequent absenteeism, low morale, early retirements, and high turnover rates. The legislature believes that there is a direct correlation between law enforcement officers' mental and physical health and public safety. Therefore, supporting law enforcement officers' health is strongly in the public interest.

The legislature recognizes that occupational health studies have recommended ways to mitigate job-related stress among law enforcement officers. These recommendations include the implementation of structured health intervention programs. Physical fitness programs have been shown to reduce the risk of both physical and mental health problems. Studies have also emphasized the importance of offering readily available, stigma‑free, trauma-informed therapy and group support.

The legislature believes that the cost of a structured health intervention program is an investment that will ultimately save the State money by reducing absenteeism, early retirements, and high turnover rates among law enforcement officers.

Accordingly, the purpose of this Act 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' mental and physical health.

SECTION 2. Chapter 139, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§139- Health intervention program. (a) No later than       days after the effective date of this Act, the board shall develop, and each department employing law enforcement officers shall implement, a structured health intervention program that supports law enforcement officers' physical and mental health.

(b) The program shall include:

(1) Physical training designed to help equip law enforcement officers to apprehend and arrest suspects and to perform other physical aspects of their duties;

(2) Fitness classes, martial arts classes, and other activities, to be made available to law enforcement officers during regular business hours;

(3) Training on best practices for safely restraining a suspect, including training on effectively monitoring the suspect's vital signs; and

(4) Mental health support, including confidential, stigma‑free, and trauma-informed therapy; mentoring programs; and peer-to-peer support groups.

(c) The board may adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 to effectuate the purposes of this section."

SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

LESB; Law Enforcement Officers; Physical Health; Mental Health; Intervention Program

Description:

Requires 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.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.