STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1408

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 285

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 285, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Require the chief of each county police department to disclose to the Legislature the identity of a police officer upon the suspension or discharge of the officer; and

(2) Amend the Uniform Information Practices Act to allow for the disclosure of employment misconduct information that results in the suspension of a county police officer.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Information Practices, American Civil Liberties Union of Hawai‘i, Society of Professional Journalists, Domestic Violence Action Center, Civil Beat Law Center for the Public Interest, League of Women Voters, Common Cause Hawaii, and two individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers and one individual.

Your Committee finds that this measure would provide public access to records of suspended police officers, similar to the information required regarding the suspension of other government employees. Your Committee further finds that promoting transparency and greater accountability of public servants is in the best interests of the State.

Your Committee has amended this measure by simplifying the amendment to section 92F-14, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and retaining the substantive effect of allowing disclosure of a county police department officer's personal information if the officer was suspended for employment misconduct.

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. 285, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 285, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

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

________________________________

CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair