STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3027

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2305

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 Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2305, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MISSING PERSONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish and appropriate moneys for a Silver Alert Program within the Department of Law Enforcement to help locate and safeguard missing persons who are sixty-five years of age or older, cognitively impaired, or developmentally disabled.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Law Enforcement, Department of Human Services, Executive Office on Aging, Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities, United Public Workers, Catholic Charities Hawaii, Hawaii Primary Care Association, Gimme A Break, Kokua Council, Papa Ola Lokahi, Alzheimer's Association, UNITE HERE Local 5, Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, AARP Hawaii, Hawaii Disability Rights Center, Hawaii Teamsters 996, Hawaii Family Caregiver Coalition, Easterseals Hawaii, Hawaii Public Health Institute, Hawaii Medical Service Association, Hawaii Government Employee Association, Hawaii Public Health Association, Oahu Search and Rescue, Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs, and numerous individuals.

Your Committee finds that silver alerts have proven effective in thirty-seven other states. Establishing a Silver Alert Program in Hawaii will help law enforcement officers locate and protect the elderly and other vulnerable persons in the State who are missing.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the appropriation to an unspecified sum, to facilitate further discussion on the measure.

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 S.B. No. 2305, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2305, S.D. 2.

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

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair