STAND. COM. REP. NO.  915-08

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

 

RE:   H.B. No. 3016

      H.D. 3

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 3016, H.D. 2, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to ensure the safety of law enforcement officers of the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) by:

 

(1)  Authorizing DOCARE officers to carry and use electric or "taser" guns in the performance of their duties, provided that DOCARE receives accreditation or recognition from a nationally recognized law enforcement accreditation or credentialing program; and

 

(2)  Appropriating $200,000 for program accreditation, purchase of electric guns and related equipment, and training DOCARE officers in their use.

 

     The Hawaii Government Employees Association, The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii, and numerous concerned individuals testified in support of this bill.  The American Civil Liberties Union opposed this measure.  DLNR and several concerned individuals submitted comments.


 

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

 

     (1)  Changing the appropriation from $200,000 to an unspecified amount for program accreditation, purchase of electric guns and related equipment, and training DOCARE officers in their use;

 

     (2)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2020, to encourage further discussion; and

 

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

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 3016, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 3016, H.D. 3.

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair