STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2306

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2755

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs and Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 2755 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO A LAW ENFORCEMENT EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS AND TRAINING BOARD,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish a law enforcement employment standards and training board responsible for developing statewide standards for employment and training for certain county and state law enforcement officers.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Transportation, and fifteen individuals.  Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney for the County of Maui; City and County of Honolulu Police Department; and Ho‘omana Pono, LLC.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Transportation and Department of Budget and Finance.

     Your Committees find that Hawaii is the only state in the nation without a statewide law enforcement board for employment standards or training.  Given the considerable power and authority given by the State and counties to police, sheriffs, and other law enforcement officers, it is important to establish statewide standards for these officers.  Such standards would provide a common core of knowledge and training for state and county law enforcement officers.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs and Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2755 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committees on Judiciary and Labor and Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs and Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health,

________________________________ ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair

________________________________ CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair