STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3908

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.C.R. No. 193

H.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 193, H.D. 1, entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A COURT SECURITY AND DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT CAPACITY WORKING GROUP TO ADDRESS SYSTEMIC STAFFING SHORTAGES, EXPANDED STATUTORY RESPONSIBILITIES, AND THE ESCALATING FISCAL AND ACCOUNTABILITY RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH PRIVATE SECURITY CONTRACTING AT STATE COURTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the establishment of a Court Security and Department of Law Enforcement Capacity Working Group to address systemic staffing shortages, expanded statutory responsibilities, and the escalating fiscal and accountability risks associated with private security contracting at state courts.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Judiciary and Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO.

Your Committee finds that the Sherriff's Division has experienced a significant expansion in its responsibilities. However, current staffing, recruitment pipelines, compensation structures, and training capacity are insufficient, creating persistent vacancies, hiring delays, compensation disparities, overtime dependency, and cross deployment away from core assignments. This operational strain necessitates contracting with private security personnel who are not subject to the same accountability standards as public law enforcement personnel. This measure will encourage investment in the Deputy Sheriff workforce to ensure that privatization does not become the long‑term solution to staffing shortages.

Your Committee notes that any requested appropriations pursuant to this measure are not intended to supplant any existing budget requests that address immediate concerns as the Court Security and Department of Law Enforcement Capacity Working Group is intended to investigate long-term solutions to staffing shortages.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 193, H.D. 1, and recommends its adoption.

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

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KARL RHOADS, Chair