Bill > SB2383

This bill mandates that the Department of Law Enforcement provide a $15,000 retention bonus to eligible sworn law enforcement officers who have been employed full-time within the preceding fiscal year and completed at least two thousand hours of service, including regular duty, approved overtime, sick leave, and vacation. The department is responsible for verifying this eligibility using payroll and attendance records. This bonus is intended to address significant pay disparities between state law enforcement officers and their county counterparts, which have made it difficult for the department to recruit and retain qualified personnel due to the state's high cost of living and demanding work conditions. The bonus will be paid annually for each year an officer meets the requirements, will not be recurring in the sense of being added to base pay, and will be excluded from calculations for future salary, retirement benefits, or other ongoing compensation adjustments unless otherwise legally required. The bill also appropriates funds for the payment of these bonuses for the fiscal year 2026-2027 and will take effect on July 1, 2026.

Government Affairs

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=2383&year=2026