STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3746

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2352

H.D. 1

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 2352, H.D. 1, S.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:

(1) Exempt the administrator of the Law Enforcement Standards Board from civil service laws; and

(2) Clarify membership and certain powers and duties of the Law Enforcement Standards Board and establish new deadlines for the completion of Board responsibilities.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of the Attorney General and Department of Law Enforcement.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the ACLU of Hawaiʻi.

Your Committee finds that the Law Enforcement Standards Board was established by section 139-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, for the certification of law enforcement officers, including county police officers and officers of the Departments of Law Enforcement, Land and Natural Resources, Taxation, and Attorney General. Your Committee further finds that the Law Enforcement Standards Board must consult and cooperate with the counties, state agencies, other governmental agencies, universities and colleges, and other institutions concerning the development of law enforcement officer training schools and programs. This measure will provide the Law Enforcement Standards Board with more time and resources to accomplish its mission.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting language adding to the membership of the Law Enforcement Standards Board a member selected by the union representing police officers in the State who shall serve for a term of four years;

(2) Making it effective upon its approval; and

(3) 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 Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2352, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2352, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,

________________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair