STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1413

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 229

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Safety and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 229 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING EACH COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT TO PURCHASE AND DEPLOY EXPLOSION DETECTION TECHNOLOGY TO LOCATE AND RESPOND TO EXPLOSIONS CAUSED BY THE ILLEGAL USE OF FIREARMS AND FIREWORKS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Request each county police department in the State to purchase and deploy explosion detection technology to locate and respond to explosions caused by the illegal use of firearms and fireworks; and

(2) Request each county Chief of Police in the State to ensure appropriate training is provided to police officers in the use of the explosion detection technology equipment.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers, Pearl City Neighborhood Board No. 21, and three individuals.

Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committees find that illegal fireworks have long posed significant public safety risks and health hazards in Hawaii, leading to traumatic impacts on the communities of the State. According to testimony received by your Committees, deployment of explosion detection technology, such as ShotSpotter, has been successfully used in over ninety cities nationwide to detect and locate gunfire, leading to faster response times and more accurate crime scene identification, and its application in detecting illegal fireworks can similarly enhance law enforcement's ability to respond swiftly and effectively to fireworks-related incidents. This measure is therefore a critical step towards enhancing public safety and addressing the persistent challenges faced by local law enforcement in managing illegal fireworks activities.

Your Committees have amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Safety and Military Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 229, as amended herein, and recommend its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 229, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Safety and Military Affairs,

________________________________ BRANDON J.C. ELEFANTE, Chair

________________________________ GLENN WAKAI, Chair