Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Labor and Public Employment, to which was referred S.B. No. 3017, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to protect the constitutional and statutory rights of law enforcement officers by establishing a "Law Enforcement Officers' Bill of Rights" within the Hawaii Revised Statutes.

The State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers and a concerned citizen testified in support of this bill. The Honolulu Police Department, Department of Human Resources of the City and County of Honolulu, Department of Personnel Services of the County of Maui, Maui County Police Department, County of Hawaii Police Department, a member of the Maui County Council, and a concerned individual testified in opposition to this measure.

Your Committee finds that law enforcement officers risk their lives to serve our citizens. As such, we have a duty to assure that their interests are protected. However, many issues regarding the scope and enforceability of this measure remain, which are beyond the scope of this Committee.

Your Committee therefore, respectfully requests the Committee on Judiciary to closely review these important issues.

After careful consideration, your Committee has amended this bill by:

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Labor and Public Employment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3017, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3017, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.