Bill Text: HI SB568 | 2016 | Regular Session | Amended

Hawaii Senate Bill 568 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Law Enforcement Standards Board; Special Fund; Appropriations ($)

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 15-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-01-21 - Re-Referred to PSM/TRE/WLA, WAM/JDL. [SB568 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2016-SB568-Amended.html

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	568
TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2015		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO A LAW ENFORCEMENT STANDARDS BOARD.

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

SECTION 1. It is the role of the State to oversee and regulate professions and occupations that have a significant impact on society. Law enforcement is an area where more should be done by the State to provide standards and uniformity statewide, as the State did recently through a law to regulate private security guards.

Given the immense authority that the State and counties grant to police, sheriffs, and other law enforcement officers, including the power to search, arrest, and use deadly force, the State must enact a law that certifies law enforcement officers to ensure the highest standards of professionalism and uniformity of standards throughout our islands.

Hawaii is the only state in the country without any state-level regulation of police. Regulation is left to the counties. Furthermore, Hawaii does not have any procedure for revoking a police officer's certification for serious misconduct.

The purpose of this Act is to establish a law enforcement standards board for the certification of county police officers, state public safety officers employed by the department of public safety, and employees at the departments of transportation and land and natural resources with police powers.

SECTION 2. The Hawaii Revised Statutes is amended by adding a new chapter to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"Chapter

LAW ENFORCEMENT STANDARDS BOARD

§ -1 Definitions. As used in this chapter, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the following terms shall mean as follows:

"Board" means the law enforcement standards board.

"Candidate" means an individual seeking certification as a law enforcement officer.

"Law enforcement officer" means:

(1) A police officer employed by a county police department;

(2) A public safety officer employed by the department of public safety; or

(3) An employee of the department of transportation or the department of land and natural resources who is conferred by law with general police powers.

§ -2 Creation of law enforcement standards board; composition. (a) There is created in the department of the attorney general, for administrative purposes only, the law enforcement standards board, which shall consist of eleven voting members as follows:

(1) Three members with law enforcement experience who are not currently employed as law enforcement officers shall be appointed by the governor, in accordance with section 26-34;

(2) Two members who are retired judges or retired judicial officers shall be appointed by the governor, in accordance with section 26-34;

(3) Two members who are educators or personnel at a Hawaii institution of higher education with law enforcement or criminal justice knowledge shall be appointed by the governor, in accordance with section 26-34; and

(4) One member not currently employed by a law enforcement agency shall be appointed by each of the mayors of the counties of Hawaii, Kauai, and Maui and the city and county of Honolulu.

(b) The terms of the members shall be four years, and no person shall be appointed consecutively to more than two terms; provided that membership on the board shall not exceed eight consecutive years, in accordance with section 26-34.

(c) Six members of the board shall constitute a quorum, and a quorum may exercise all the power and authority conferred on the board.

(d) The board shall select a chairperson and vice chairperson from among its members.

(e) The members of the board shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for expenses, including travel expenses, necessary for the performance of their duties.

§ -3 Powers. The board shall have the following powers:

(1) Adopt rules in accordance with chapter 91 to implement this chapter;

(2) Consult with state and county agencies and other stakeholders to establish minimum standards for employment as a state or county law enforcement officer and certify persons to be qualified as law enforcement officers;

(3) Establish minimum criminal justice curriculum requirements for basic, specialized, and in-service courses and programs for schools operated by or for the State or a county for the specific purpose of training law enforcement officers;

(4) Consult and cooperate with the counties, police commissions, agencies of the State, other governmental agencies, universities, colleges, and other institutions concerning the development of law enforcement officer training schools and programs of criminal justice instruction;

(5) Employ, subject to chapter 76, an administrator and other persons necessary to carry out the board's duties under this chapter;

(6) Investigate when there is reason to believe that a law enforcement officer does not meet the minimum standards for employment and, in so doing, may subpoena persons, books, records, or documents related to the investigation and require answers in writing under oath;

(7) Establish and require participation in continuing education programs for law enforcement officers;

(8) Charge and collect fees from candidates seeking certification as a law enforcement officer; and

(9) Investigate any allegations of wrongdoing, misconduct, or questionable operations involving any state or county law enforcement agency or law enforcement officer and, in so doing, may subpoena persons, books, records, or documents related to the investigation and require answers in writing under oath. Any findings and information may be shared with the appropriate county or state commission, board, or agency.

§ -4 Law enforcement standards board special fund; established. There is established in the state treasury the law enforcement standards board special fund. The revenues of the special fund shall consist of appropriations made by the legislature, fees charged by the board, grants, gifts, and interest on moneys deposited in the special fund. The special fund shall be used to defray the expenses of the board in implementing this chapter.

§ -5 Training. (a) The board may establish law enforcement training programs through agencies and institutions deemed appropriate by the board to certify candidates; provided that the board shall establish minimum training requirements for law enforcement officers.

(b) Each government agency or department shall be responsible for training its staff to meet the necessary standards or qualifications.

§ -6 Standards. (a) No person may be appointed or hired as a law enforcement officer unless the person:

(1) Has satisfactorily completed a basic program of law enforcement training approved by the board; and

(2) Possesses other qualifications that the board has established for the employment of law enforcement officers, including minimum age, education, physical and mental standards, citizenship, good conduct, moral character, and experience.

(b) The board shall issue a certificate evidencing satisfaction of the requirements of this section to a candidate who satisfies the requirements of subsection (a) or satisfactorily completes a program or course of instruction in another jurisdiction equivalent in content and quality to that required under subsection (a).

(c) The board may deny or revoke the certificate of a candidate or law enforcement officer who fails to meet or maintain the standards required under subsection (a), subject to due process.

(d) The board may deny or revoke the certificate of a candidate or law enforcement officer who has been involved in an act of criminal misconduct, subject to due process.

§ -7 Employment of law enforcement officers. (a) Except as provided under subsection (b), beginning on January 1, 2018, no person shall be appointed or hired as a law enforcement officer by any county police department, the department of public safety, the department of transportation, or the department of land and natural resources, unless the person has a valid certificate issued by the board under section -6. Law enforcement officers under contract by the State shall meet the minimum qualifications established by the board.

(b) This section shall not apply to a person employed on a probationary basis, except that employment on a probationary basis may not exceed the period authorized for probationary employment as determined by the board.

(c) Beginning December 31, 2018, existing law enforcement officers shall have two years to obtain a valid certificate issued by the board under section -6. In-service training shall be used to meet the law enforcement training requirements established under section -6."

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2015-2016 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2016-2017 for deposit into the law enforcement standards board special fund.

SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the law enforcement standards board special fund the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2015-2016 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2016-2017 for the purposes of this Act.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of the attorney general for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 5. This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2015.

Report Title:

Law Enforcement Standards Board; Special Fund; Appropriations

Description:

Establishes a law enforcement standards board for the certification of county police officers, state public safety officers, and employees of the departments of transportation and land and natural resources with police powers. Beginning on 1/1/2018, prohibits appointment or hiring of these officers unless certified by the law enforcement standards board. Establishes a special fund. (SD1)

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