STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3899

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 1239

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 1239, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, 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 enhance the public's trust in law enforcement and standardize best practices between the counties by amending provisions pertaining to the law enforcement officer independent review board to:

 

     (1)  Require members to serve four-year terms; and

 

     (2)  Make the board permanent.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers.

 

     Your Committee finds that in response to growing demands for law enforcement transparency and accountability in Hawaii, lawmakers created the Law Enforcement Officer Independent Review Board housed within the Department of the Attorney General, which makes recommendations to county prosecuting attorneys in all four counties.  In turn, county prosecuting attorneys decide whether to prosecute or conduct further investigation.  Your Committee believes that public trust in law enforcement is critical to ensuring justice for all under the law and the Law Enforcement Officer Independent Review Board bolsters this public trust.  This measure will help citizens trust those empowered to serve and protect them by amending provisions pertaining to the Law Enforcement Officer Independent Review Board to require members to serve four-year terms and make the board permanent.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Making it effective upon its approval; and

 

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

 

     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. 1239, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1239, H.D. 2, S.D. 2.

 

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

 

 

 

________________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair