THE SENATE

S.C.R. NO.

130

TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2017

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

Urging the state sheriff to create a working group to develop a plan for expanding and deploying the special operations k9 unit to combat the ILLICIT drug abuse epidemic in the state.

 

 


     WHEREAS, the abuse of illicit drugs in the State is an epidemic that has no place in Hawaii's families, communities, or schools; and

 

     WHEREAS, according to the Department of Health, the average annual number of drug poisoning deaths, or overdoses, in Hawaii nearly doubled from the 1999-2003 period (78 deaths) to the 2010-2014 period (156 deaths); and

 

     WHEREAS, the Department of Health also reports that from 2010 through 2014, drugs and medications, including prescription drugs, illicit drugs, and over-the-counter medications, were the underlying cause of death for ninety-one percent of all poisoning deaths; and

 

     WHEREAS, it is essential that the State explore all reasonable options in combatting this public health crisis; and

 

     WHEREAS, the benefits of drug-detecting canines are well-known, and drug-detecting canines are widely utilized by law enforcement agencies across the globe; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Department of Public Safety already deploys a special operations K9 unit to detect bombs, narcotics, and currency; and

 

     WHEREAS, the special operations K9 unit is currently based in Honolulu and is composed of only five handlers and five deputy canines, with two specializing in bomb detection, two specializing in narcotics detection, and one specializing in currency detection; and

 

     WHEREAS, substantially increasing the size and scope of the special operations K9 unit could have a great impact on curtailing the State's drug epidemic; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-ninth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2017, the House of Representatives concurring, that the State Sheriff is urged to create a working group to:

 

     (1)  Develop a course of action on how a statewide K9 operations unit could be established and deployed to combat the drug epidemic in the State; and

 

     (2)  Discuss cross jurisdictional issues, if any, among federal, state, and county law enforcement agencies; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group be convened by the State Sheriff and include representatives from:

 

     (1)  The United States Department of Homeland Security, Transportation Security Administration;

 

     (2)  The United States Drug Enforcement Administration;

 

     (3)  Each of the county police departments;

 

     (4)  Interested non-profit organizations; and

 

     (5)  Other interested community stakeholders; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Sheriff is requested to submit a report to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2018 that includes but is not limited to:

 

     (1)  Data and statistics on narcotics and money trafficking in and out of the State through the State's five major airports (Hilo International Airport, Kona International Airport, Kahului Airport, Lihue Airport, and Honolulu International Airport);

 

     (2)  Data and statistics on how the drug epidemic is impacting the State's communities;

 

     (3)  A plan of action and a proposal for the phased-in implementation of a statewide K9 special operations unit program to combat the State's drug epidemic; and

 

     (4)  A cost estimate for the proposed statewide K9 special operations unit program accounting for necessary staff, canines, training, and equipment; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group be dissolved on June 30, 2018; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the State Sheriff; United States Department of Homeland Security, Transportation Security Administration, Honolulu Office; United States Drug Enforcement Administration, Special Agent in Charge, Los Angeles Division; and the chief of each county police department.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

Special Operations K9 Unit; Working Group