Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs and Transportation, Military Affairs and Government Operations, to which was referred S.B. No. 1393 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish a state Department of Law Enforcement to assume the public safety and law enforcement duties of the Department of Public Safety which is redesignated as the Department of Corrections.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney, the Department of Public Safety. The Hawaii State Public Library System opposed part of the bill.

Your Committees find that currently, the Department of Public Safety encompasses two distinct functions. The correctional division manages the prisons and inmates, and is responsible for the care, rehabilitation, and treatment of prisoners. The law enforcement division provides security for public buildings, administers a statewide program of enforcement and investigation of controlled substances, and provides sheriff's services such as service of warrants. Your Committees also find that the Department of Public Safety must set its priorities and allocate its resources between these two disparate and sometimes competing functions.

You Committees further find that in recent years, the demand for law enforcement services has dramatically increased. As police resources are stretched, sheriffs are expected to respond to incidents occurring at state buildings. Your Committees recognize that in the event of a citywide emergency, the Honolulu Police Department may not have the resources to cover state buildings placing both state buildings and employees at risk to harm unless another law enforcement source is created.

Your Committees amended the bill by making technical, nonsubstantive changes for clarity and style.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs and Transportation, Military Affairs and Government Operations that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1393, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1393, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.