HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

252

TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2005

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 
   


HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

REQUESTING THE LEGISLATIVE REFERENCE BUREAU TO CONDUCT A REVIEW OF THE LAWS OF OTHER JURISDICTIONS REGARDING TAX BENEFITS, RETIREMENT SYSTEM CONTRIBUTIONS, HEALTH FUND CONTRIBUTIONS, AND OTHER BENEFITS PROVIDED TO POLICE OFFICERS.

 

WHEREAS, the four counties and the State have experienced recruitment and retention problems with respect to police officers; and

WHEREAS, local police officers are actively recruited by mainland municipalities that offer higher pay and benefits in communities with a lower cost of living; and

WHEREAS, a police department operating at less than full capacity places the public's health, safety, and welfare at risk; and

WHEREAS, a police force that is short-staffed means longer response times to emergency calls and fewer services provided to the public; and

WHEREAS, recent legislation has proposed assisting police officers with tax incentives, pay raises, and other benefits; and

WHEREAS, these proposals may be premature in light of the lack of information, especially with respect to how other jurisdictions provide for their police forces; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2005, the Senate concurring, that the Legislative Reference Bureau is requested to conduct a review of the laws of other state and county jurisdictions and the benefits they provide to their police officers; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Bureau is requested to include in its review a description and level of any:

(1) Tax benefits;

(2) Retirement system contributions;

(3) Health fund contributions; or

(4) Other benefits;

provided to or paid by police officers; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislative Reference Bureau is requested to report its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2006; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chiefs of Police and the Chairpersons of the Police Commissions of each of the four counties, Mayors of the four counties, and the Director of the Legislative Reference Bureau.

 

 

Report Title:

Requests the Legislative Reference Bureau to Conduct a Review of the Laws of Other Jurisdictions