Bill > SB813

This bill introduces comprehensive law enforcement reform in Hawaii with several key provisions. It requires law enforcement officers to report criminal misconduct by other officers within fifteen days of observing such behavior, establishing a detailed reporting and investigation process that involves department heads, chiefs of police, and police commissions. The bill mandates that any newly appointed law enforcement officer after June 30, 2026, must pass a psychological screening test battery designed to detect behavioral traits that could negatively impact their performance, in addition to existing training requirements. The legislation also expands grounds for denying, suspending, or revoking an officer's certification, specifically including failure to report criminal misconduct or committing such acts themselves. Furthermore, the bill prohibits law enforcement officers from using chokeholds except in situations where deadly force is justifiable, and defines a chokehold as any pressure applied to the throat, windpipe, or neck that prevents or reduces air or oxygen intake to the brain. The bill includes protections for officers who report misconduct in good faith, ensuring they cannot face discriminatory or retaliatory actions, and defines criminal misconduct broadly to include offenses such as assault, sexual assault, bribery, fraud, theft, and excessive use of force.

Government Affairs

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=813&year=2025