STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3292

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2171

H.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 2171, H.D. 2, 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) Establish a Department of Law Enforcement to consolidate and administer criminal law enforcement and investigations functions of the State;

(2) Reestablish the Department of Public Safety as an independent Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to administer the corrections, rehabilitation, and reentry of the inmate population;

(3) Transfer the law enforcement functions of the Department of Public Safety, Department of Transportation, non-statutorily mandated functions of the Investigations Division of the Department of the Attorney General, and the Office of Homeland Security to the Department of Law Enforcement;

(4) Establish a training center within the Department of Law Enforcement; and

(5) Establish positions and appropriate funds for the Department of Law Enforcement and Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Immigrations and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations; Department of the Attorney General; Department of Public Safety; Department of Transportation; Hawaii Paroling Authority; Department of Defense; Department of Hawaiian Home Lands; Department of Public Safety, Sheriff Division; Hawaii Office of Homeland Security; Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu; Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO; State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers; and one hundred twelve individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from three individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance; Office of Information Practices; and United Public Workers, AFSCME Local 646, AFL-CIO.

Your Committee finds that consolidating corrections and rehabilitation functions into a single, dedicated department improves the State's ability to meet the needs of inmates and pretrial detainees. Your Committee further finds that establishing a single chain of command for law enforcement responsibilities within a single state department enhances state law enforcement services. This measure will allow for the efficient use of resources in administering correctional programs and improve decision making, promote accountability, streamline communication, decrease costs, reduce duplication of efforts, provide uniform training and standards, and promote uniform standards of law enforcement services by reestablishing the Department of Public Safety as an independent Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to administer the corrections, rehabilitation, and reentry of the inmate population and establishing a Department of Law Enforcement to consolidate and administer criminal law enforcement and investigations functions of the State.

Your Committee has heard the testimony of one individual expressing concerns that there is a lack of research to show the efficacy of this measure. Your Committee finds that this issue raises concerns that merit further consideration and requests that your Committees on Ways and Means and Judiciary further examine those issues and concerns raised by the testifiers on this measure.

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. 2171, H.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committees on Ways and Means and Judiciary.

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

________________________________

CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair