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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
2055 |
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THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 |
S.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
H.D. 1 |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO CIVIL RIGHTS.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
"§368- Civil rights violations helpline;
established. (a) The
civil rights commission shall establish and maintain a twenty-four-hour,
toll-free telephone helpline to assist individuals who experience or witness
civil rights violations in the State.
(b) The civil rights commission may contract for
the operation of the helpline to carry out the purposes of this section without
regard to chapter 103D.
(c) The helpline shall:
(1) Assist individuals in finding
resources, including all county and state government assistance programs for
which they are eligible, information on social and legal assistance, and school
emergency response, crisis intervention, and other programs for students;
(2) Receive anonymized calls relating to allegations or complaints of civil rights violations in the State; and
(3) Have voicemail capabilities, have an internet website, and provide translation and disability access services.
(d) The civil rights commission shall only
investigate reports to the helpline alleging violations of state civil rights law
within the commission's jurisdiction.
(e) The civil rights commission shall advertise
the helpline and make materials available to the public to encourage reports to
the helpline for those who experience or witness civil rights violations.
(f) All reports and other communications to the
helpline, including those received or maintained by a contractor operating the
helpline on behalf of the civil rights commission, shall be confidential and
shall be treated as records of the commission subject to section 368-4.
(g) The civil rights commission shall maintain a
secure database of all reports received by the helpline.
(h) The civil rights commission shall compile and
submit an annual report to the legislature that includes aggregated data from
the helpline and information on civil rights violations in the State. The report shall not include personally
identifiable information. The report
shall include the following:
(1) Number and type of reports received by the helpline;
(2) Law enforcement agencies involved;
(3) Patterns or trends regarding
misconduct, excessive use of force, racial profiling, and other federal and
state civil rights violations; and
(4) Recommendations for policy and training improvements over which the civil rights commission has jurisdiction.
(i) The civil rights commission shall convene at
least one public hearing every calendar year to present findings from the
annual public report described in subsection (h). The civil rights commission shall provide
public notice of the hearing.
(j) The civil rights commission shall compile and
submit to the legislature, and post on its website, a monthly preliminary
report that includes aggregated data from the helpline and information on civil
rights violations in the State. The
report shall not include personally identifiable information. The report shall include the following:
(1) Number and type of reports received by the helpline;
(2) Law enforcement agencies involved;
(3) Patterns or trends regarding
misconduct, excessive use of force, racial profiling, and other federal and
state civil rights violations; and
(4) Recommendations for policy and training improvements over which the civil rights commission has jurisdiction.
(k) The civil rights commission shall include in
each monthly preliminary report described in subsection (j) a disclaimer
indicating that, due to time constraints, the information included in the
report may not be fully verified and may be subject to change."
SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the establishment of the following positions within the Hawaii civil rights commission:
(1) full-time equivalent ( FTE) civil rights investigator positions to follow up on reports and conduct interviews;
(2) full-time equivalent ( FTE) data analyst positions to maintain the secure database and prepare the monthly and annual reports; and
(3) full-time equivalent ( FTE) program manager positions to oversee the helpline contract with Aloha United Way and ensure compliance.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of labor and industrial relations for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the Hawaii civil rights commission to contract with Aloha United Way to implement a twenty-four-hour intake civil rights violation helpline in the existing 211 system operated by Aloha United Way.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of labor and industrial relations for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for website and database development costs.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of labor and industrial relations for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 5. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.
Report Title:
Civil Rights Commission; Civil Rights Violations; Helpline; Annual Report; Monthly Report; Appropriations
Description:
Requires the Civil Rights Commission to establish a twenty-four-hour intake helpline to assist individuals who experience or witness civil rights violations in the State. Requires the Civil Rights Commission to compile an annual report and hold an annual public hearing on data obtained through the helpline. Requires the Civil Rights Commission to compile and submit to the Legislature, and post on its website, a monthly preliminary report on data obtained through the helpline. Appropriates funds to establish an unspecified number of Civil Rights Investigator, Data Analyst, and Program Manager positions within the Civil Rights Commission. Appropriates funds for the Civil Rights Commission to contract with Aloha United Way to implement the twenty-four-hour intake helpline and for website and data development costs. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.