STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2127

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2519

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2519 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish new deadlines for the completion of Law Enforcement Standards Board certification responsibilities.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of the Attorney General, Department of Law Enforcement, Law Enforcement Standards Board, Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the County of Maui, Maui Police Department, Office of the Prosecuting Attorney of the County of Hawaii, and two individuals.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from six individuals.

Your Committee finds that the Law Enforcement Standards Board is responsible for establishing uniform certification standards for all state and county law enforcement agencies. Establishing these standards for law enforcement officers requires administrative rules, standardized processes, and supporting systems to ensure consistent determinations, accurate documentation, and uniform application. Additionally, these standards must be transparent and accountable to the public.

Your Committee further finds that the Law Enforcement Standards Board has limited administrative capacity to implement certification procedures. Because of this limited capacity, the Law Enforcement Standards Board will face significant challenges in meeting the existing deadline of June 30, 2026. Importantly, even if the Legislature appropriated additional funds to the Law Enforcement Standards Board, those funds would not be available until after the deadline for certification. Accordingly, this measure extends the deadline for the certification of law enforcement officers in the State.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2519 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs,

________________________________

CAROL FUKUNAGA, Chair