STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2093

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 3019

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water and Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 3019 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE CONSERVATION AND RESOURCES ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require the Department of Land and Natural Resources to seek and obtain accreditation for the Conservation and Resources Enforcement Program from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO; Center for Biological Diversity; and two individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee finds that the Conservation and Resources Enforcement Program of the Department of Land and Natural Resources has many responsibilities that are integral to preserving the public peace and safety for Hawaii's lands and waters. Other law enforcement departments such as the Honolulu and Maui Police Departments are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc.

However, accreditation requirements were inadvertently repealed in section 8 of Act 183, Session Laws of Hawaii 2021. To provide enforcement officers of the Conservation and Resources Program with proper training and certification, this measure reimplements the requirement for certification of the Department of Land and Natural Resources Conservation and Resources Program and appropriates funds to pursue accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc.

Your Committee has amended this measure by inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water and Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3019, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3019, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water and Land,

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LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair