STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2629

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2428

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2428 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to ensure that applicants for law enforcement officer positions are of good character.

Specifically, the measure:

(1) Prohibits 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) Requires background checks for prospective police officers.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation; the Young Progressives Demanding Action - Hawaii; and four individuals.

Your Committee finds that a high-quality and high-performing workforce for state and county law enforcement is critical in order to protect the health and safety of the public. Requiring background checks, and prohibiting the hiring of individuals who were in poor standing in their previous law enforcement positions, will improve the quality of state and county law enforcement employees.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2428, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2428, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair