STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1003

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 365

       H.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 365, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO POLICE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds as a grant-in-aid to the City and County of Honolulu for the purchase of wearable body camera technology and to establish the Honolulu Police Department body camera pilot program for one hundred officers; provided that no funds appropriated to the county shall be expended unless matched dollar-for-dollar by the county.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers, IMUAlliance, and one individual.

     Your Committee finds that the use of wearable body camera technology provides law enforcement officers and civilians with added security in their actions.  Law enforcement officers and civilians who are aware that they are being videotaped are more likely to behave in a calm manner, ensuring the safety of the public and increasing law enforcement effectiveness and transparency.  Implementation of this measure promotes transparency, accountability, and protection for law enforcement officers and civilians.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 365, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs,

________________________________

WILL ESPERO, Chair