STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2660

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 3079

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. 3079 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 increase staff and resources for the Department of Public Safety's Sheriff Division on the island of Hawaii.

More specifically, this measure:

(1) Establishes one full-time equivalent permanent lieutenant position in the Kona unit of the Sheriff Division within the Department of Public Safety; and

(2) Appropriates funds for the initial six-month hiring period and for one-time costs for the purchase of position-related uniforms and equipment, with the condition that funds for the position be included and requested within the Department's base budget for subsequent years at a rate equivalent to the base salary for the position as determined by the Department.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Public Safety, Hawaii State Judiciary, and two individuals.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that the current level of staffing in the Sheriff Division on the island of Hawaii, particularly in the Kona unit, is inadequate for the Sheriff Division to properly perform its duties.

Your Committee notes that the Department of Public Safety requested an appropriation of $46,319 for fiscal year 2018-2019 for the lieutenant position.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the appropriation from $46,319 to an unspecified amount;

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

(3) Making technical nonsubstantive changes for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

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. 3079, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3079, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

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

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair