STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1137

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

RE:   S.B. No. 208

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Public Safety and Labor & Public Employment, to which was referred S.B. No. 208 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC SAFETY,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to ensure continuity and stability within the Sheriffs Division of the Department of Public Safety (PSD) by providing civil service status for the positions of the first and second deputy sheriffs.

     The Hawaii Government Employees Association and several concerned individuals supported this bill.  PSD opposed this measure.

     Your Committees find that the Sheriffs Division provides invaluable services to the State in protecting its officials and facilities.  However, your Committee understands that many positions exempt from civil service hiring regulations were intended to assist newly elected or appointed officials by providing greater flexibility in implementing policy and procedures.  Your Committees remain concerned that enactment of this bill may set an unfavorable precedent by removing the ability of the current or future Governor and Director of Public Safety to select administrators that work well within their current system.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Public Safety and Labor & Public Employment that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 208 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Public Safety and Labor & Public Employment,

____________________________ KARL RHOADS, Chair

____________________________ FAYE HANOHANO, Chair