STAND. COM. REP. NO.  678-24

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2024

 

RE:   H.B. No. 2458

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 2458 entitled:

 

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

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to:

 

     (1)  Require the Director of Law Enforcement to investigate alleged violations of the law when directed to do so by the Governor or when the Director determines that an investigation would be in the public interest; and

 

     (2)  Authorize the Director of Law Enforcement to issue subpoenas as part of the investigative powers of the Department.

 

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

 

     Your Committee finds that the Department of Law Enforcement was established to consolidate and administer state criminal law enforcement and investigations of various state departments.  While the Director of Law Enforcement currently has subpoena powers for the purpose of investigations under the Uniform Controlled Substances Act, this measure would expand the subpoena powers of the Director to other investigations conducted by the Department of Law Enforcement.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

 

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

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2458, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2458, H.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair