THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

686

THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2021

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO EXPLOSION DETECTION TECHNOLOGY.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the people of the State deserve to live in peace and security, without the public safety risks, health hazards, and traumatic impacts of illegal gunfire and illegal fireworks use.

     The legislature also finds that new technologies allow law enforcement officers to instantly detect and locate the geographic origin of explosions caused by gunfire or illegal fireworks.  According to a police lieutenant in Denver, his department's use of this technology allows them to receive notification of gunshots within forty seconds and respond to within twenty-five feet of an actual crime scene.  The legislature notes that ShotSpotter is one such product that is currently being used by more than ninety cities nationwide.

     The legislature further finds that these technologies were originally developed to assist law enforcement in detecting gunshots, but may also equip police departments to enforce fireworks laws.

     The purpose of this Act is to:

     (1)  Require county police departments to purchase and deploy explosion detection technology for departmental use; and

     (2)  Appropriates moneys as a grant-in-aid to the counties for this purpose.

     SECTION 2.  (a)  The respective police departments of each county shall purchase explosion detection technology for the purpose of assisting those departments in locating and responding to explosions caused by illegal use of firearms and fireworks.

     (b)  The chiefs of the respective police departments shall ensure that appropriate training is provided to police officers in the use of the explosion detection technology.

     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 2021-2022 as a grant-in-aid to the several counties for the purposes of purchasing explosion detection technology pursuant to section 2 of this Act.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended for the purposes of this Act, as follows:

     (1)  $         by the county of Hawaii;

     (2)  $         by the county of Maui;

     (3)  $         by the county of Kauai; and

     (4)  $         by the city and county of Honolulu.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2021.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

 

 


 


 

Report Title:

Counties; Public Safety; Explosion Detection Technology; Grant-In-Aid; Appropriation

 

Description:

Requires the county police departments to purchase and deploy explosion detection technology to assist in the location of and response to explosions caused by the illegal use of firearms and fireworks.  Appropriates unspecified funds to the counties as a grant-in-aid.

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.