STAND. COM. REP. NO. 379

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 277

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 277 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO VEHICULAR PURSUIT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to statutorily establish statewide vehicular law enforcement pursuit policies.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Policing Project; ACLU Hawaiʻi; and one individual. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawaiʻi Police Department and Maui Police Department. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Office of Information Practices.

Your Committee finds that vehicular pursuits by law enforcement pose significant risks to public safety, particularly given Hawaii's unique road conditions and densely populated areas. Establishing clear and uniform statewide policies regarding vehicular pursuit, will help ensure that pursuits are conducted only when absolutely necessary and in a manner that prioritizes the safety of officers, suspects, and the general public.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

Your Committee notes the concerns raised by the county police departments in their written testimony on whether codifying vehicular pursuit policies is the most appropriate form of establishing statewide standards rather than through the existing Law Enforcement Standards Board.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 277, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 277, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation,

____________________________

DARIUS KILA, Chair