STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3086

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2231

H.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 2231, H.D. 1, 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:

(1) Establish as a goal of the State the increased representation of female law enforcement officers in the State by 2030; and

(2) Require each law enforcement agency to recruit law enforcement officers from diverse backgrounds.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Law Enforcement, Honolulu Police Department, State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers, Stonewall Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi, ACLU of Hawaiʻi, Rainbow Family 808, and one individual.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from two individuals.

Your Committee finds that according to the President's Task Force on Twenty—First Century Policing, increasing the diversity of law enforcement agencies throughout the nation is critical to developing trust between law enforcement agencies and the public. Your Committee further finds that nearly all modern national reports on law enforcement recommend the increased employment of women and minorities in law enforcement. This measure will promote the representation of women officers and increase diversity in law enforcement.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2231, H.D. 1, 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 and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs,

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GLENN WAKAI, Chair