THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2003

THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to LAW ENFORCEMENT.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 

PART I

     SECTION 1.  Chapter 52D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§52D-    Bias and cultural competency training.  (a)  Each police commission established pursuant to section 52D-1 shall establish a training program that includes courses on cultural competency, implicit bias, and racial and ethnic sensitivity.  Each police officer shall complete a minimum of       hours of training every       years.

     (b)  For purposes of this section, "police officer" means any public servant employed by a county, vested by law with a duty to maintain public order or to make arrests for offenses or to enforce the criminal laws, whether that duty extends to all offenses or is limited to a specific class of offenses."

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 353C, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§353C-    Bias and cultural competency training.  The department shall establish a training program that includes courses on cultural competency, implicit bias, and racial and ethnic sensitivity.  Each law enforcement officer shall complete a minimum of       hours of training every       years."

PART II

     SECTION 3.  Chapter 52D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§52D-    Police officers; training; persons with mental disabilities; crisis intervention.  (a)  Each police commission established pursuant to section 52D-1 shall ensure that every full-time police officer receives crisis intervention training relating to law enforcement interaction with persons with mental disabilities.  The training shall include, at a minimum, eight hours of core instruction in the following:

     (1)  The causes and nature of mental illnesses and developmental disabilities;

     (2)  How to identify indicators of mental disability and how to respond appropriately in a variety of common situations;

     (3)  Conflict resolution and de-escalation techniques for potentially dangerous situations involving persons with mental disabilities;

     (4)  Appropriate language usage when interacting with persons with mental disabilities;

     (5)  Alternatives to lethal force when interacting with potentially dangerous persons with mental disabilities;

     (6)  Community and state resources available to serve persons with mental disabilities and how these resources can be best utilized by law enforcement to benefit persons with mental disabilities; and

     (7)  The fact that pursuant to section 706-662(6)(b), a crime committed against a victim because of an actual or perceived disability of the victim is punishable by an extended term of imprisonment.

     (b)  Each police officer who completes the training required by this section shall obtain written proof of completion of the training pursuant to procedures adopted by the applicable police commission.

     (c)  Each police commission shall establish policies relating to interaction between police officers and persons with mental disabilities or homeless individuals.  The training provided pursuant to this section shall be consistent with the policies established pursuant to this subsection.

     (d)  The training required by this section shall be completed by December 31, 2025, for police officers employed before January 1, 2025, and within twelve months of the date of employment for all other police officers.

     (e)  For purposes of this section, "police officer" means any public servant employed by a county, vested by law with a duty to maintain public order or to make arrests for offenses or to enforce the criminal laws, whether that duty extends to all offenses or is limited to a specific class of offenses."

PART III

     SECTION 4.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

 

 

 

 

Report Title:

Police Commissions; Police Officers; Law Enforcement Officers; Bias and Cultural Competency; Persons with Mental Disabilities; Crisis Intervention; Training

 

Description:

Requires police commissions to establish and police officers to complete training programs on cultural competency and implicit bias and racial and ethnic sensitivity.  Requires the Department of Law Enforcement to establish and law enforcement officers to complete training programs on cultural competency and implicit bias and racial and ethnic sensitivity.  Requires police commissions to ensure that all full-time police officers receive crisis intervention training related to interaction with persons with mental disabilities.  Requires police commissions to establish policies for officer interaction with persons with mental disabilities and homeless persons.

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.