STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1461-18

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2018

RE: S.B. No. 2428

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Labor & Public Employment, to which was referred S.B. No. 2428, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Prohibit the hiring of a state or county law enforcement officer if the candidate's previous position as a law enforcement officer was terminated while the officer was in poor employment standing; and

(2) Require background checks for prospective police officers.

Young Progressives Demanding Action - Hawaii, Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, and two individuals supported this measure. The Department of Transportation provided comments on this measure.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting from the definition of "poor employment standing," resignation while under investigation, suspension, or during forced administrative desk duty pending investigation; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

Your Committee notes that a police officer's misconduct is not necessarily determined through collective bargaining or through the legal process and, as such, this measure provides legislative remedies.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Labor & Public Employment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2428, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2428, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Labor & Public Employment,

____________________________

AARON LING JOHANSON, Chair