STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3791

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2457

H.D. 2

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 Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 2457, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, 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 facilitate the effectiveness of the Department of Law Enforcement.

Specifically, the measure:

(1) Requires the Department of Law Enforcement to pursue and obtain accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc., for all divisions and sections within the Department of Law Enforcement; and

(2) Establishes Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies coordinator positions, exempt from civil service, within the Department.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Law Enforcement and State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers.

Your Committee recognizes that the Sheriff Division of the Department of Law Enforcement has been required to be pursue accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc., since 2011, when the Sheriff Division was still part of the Department of Public Safety. Your Committee finds that the current accreditation requirement is insufficient for the Department of Law Enforcement, a statewide law enforcement agency comprising additional divisions and sections along with the Sheriff Division. Accordingly, your Committee finds that it is essential to expand the accreditation requirement to all divisions and sections within the Department.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2457, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair