STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1184

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2019

 

RE:   H.B. No. 285

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 285, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC SAFETY,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to:

 

     (1)  Require the Chief of each county police department to disclose to the Legislature the identity of a police officer upon the suspension or discharge of the officer; and

 

     (2)  Amend the Uniform Information Practices Act to allow for the disclosure of employment misconduct information that results in the suspension of a county police officer.

 

     The Civil Beat Law Center for the Public Interest, Common Cause Hawaii, League of Women Voters of Hawaii, Hawaii Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii, and a few individuals testified in support of this measure.  The State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers testified in opposition to this measure.  The Office of Information Practices provided comments.

 

     Your Committee notes that it was unable to question any police officers at the public hearing on this measure.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 285, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

CHRIS LEE, Chair