Bill > SB774

This bill establishes the Office of Gun Violence Prevention within the Department of Law Enforcement, which will be led by a director appointed by the governor. The office will have several key responsibilities, including conducting public awareness campaigns about gun safety and violence prevention, administering a grant program for community-based gun violence intervention initiatives, creating a comprehensive resource bank for gun violence data and research, and developing a statewide plan to address gun violence. The office will focus on educating residents about safe gun ownership, reporting lost or stolen firearms, safe storage practices, obtaining protective orders, and accessing mental health resources. A special Gun Violence Prevention Special Fund will be created to receive grants, donations, and legislative appropriations, and the office will be required to submit annual reports to the legislature detailing its activities, grant awards, community engagement, and recommendations. The bill appropriates funds for establishing the office, hiring personnel, creating the resource bank, and providing grants to organizations working on community-based gun violence intervention. The office is specifically tasked with developing evidence-informed strategies to reduce gun violence without contributing to mass incarceration, and will aim to improve understanding of gun violence by encouraging research that disaggregates data by race and ethnicity. The new office and its programs will take effect on July 1, 2025.

Government Affairs

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=774&year=2026