Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Public Safety & Military Affairs and Labor & Public Employment, to which was referred H.B. No. 2715 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to support our police officers by providing to each police officer an annual allowance for the maintenance and operation of the officer's uniform, equipment, and weapon.

The Hawaii Government Employees Association, State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers, and several concerned citizens testified in support of this bill. The Department of Personnel Services of the County of Maui, Department of Civil Service of the County of Hawaii, and Department of Human Resources of the City and County of Honolulu opposed this measure. The Department of Budget and Finance testified that it did not support this bill.

Your Committees believe that this bill will provide a means for recruitment and retention that will help alleviate the state's shortage of police officers.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Public Safety & Military Affairs and Labor & Public Employment that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2715 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.