STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2166

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2239

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 S.B. No. 2239 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 prohibit police departments from acquiring certain types of military equipment and using certain types of equipment on protesters and demonstrators.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the American Civil Liberties Union of Hawai‘i, Community Alliance on Prisons, Libertarian Party of Hawaii, and four individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Honolulu Police Department.

Your Committee finds that every year, millions of dollars-worth of military equipment flows from the federal government to state and local police departments. For example, the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources' Conservation and Resources Enforcement Division acquired a long-range acoustic device, often referred to as a "sound cannon". This weapon, which was developed for and is used by the military to force compliance by causing pain, has been brought by the State to peaceful demonstrations at Mauna Kea and at Sherwood Forest, though the State claimed that it would only be used as a loudspeaker and not to disperse crowds. Long-range acoustic devices can cause devastating, long-lasting effects, and even permanent hearing loss. Furthermore, militarized law enforcement tactics have been deployed disproportionately against communities of color. This measure will prevent further intimidation of communities by law enforcement's unwarranted use of weapons of war by prohibiting police departments from acquiring certain types of military equipment and using certain types of equipment on protesters and demonstrators.

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 S.B. No. 2239 and recommends that it pass Second Reading 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,

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CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair