HB1196 • 2026

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Education Energy

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor: SHIMIZU, PIERICK, WARD
Last action: 2025-12-08
Official status: Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide specific details about the amount of funding or the exact training programs to be offered.

High School Law Enforcement Career Pipeline Initiative

This bill establishes a high school law enforcement curriculum-to-career pipeline initiative to help students prepare for careers in law enforcement.

What This Bill Does

Establishes the 'High School Law Enforcement Curriculum-to-Career Pipeline Initiative' within the Department of Education.
Requires collaboration between the Department of Education and local police departments to develop and implement the program.
Offers training, mentorship opportunities, and courses related to law enforcement that count towards high school graduation requirements.
Provides a dual credit program for college-level criminal justice courses at the University of Hawaii and its community colleges.

Who It Names or Affects

High school students interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement.
Local police departments and schools participating in the program.
The Department of Education responsible for implementing the initiative.

Terms To Know

Curriculum-to-Career Pipeline: A program that helps students transition from high school to careers or further education by providing relevant training and experience.
Dual Credit Program: An educational arrangement where high school students can earn both high school and college credits for the same course.

Limits and Unknowns

The exact amount of funding appropriated is not specified in the bill text.
It's unclear how many schools will participate or what specific training programs will be offered.
The effectiveness of the program in preparing students for law enforcement careers remains to be seen.

Bill History

2025-12-08 D
Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
2025-01-27 H
Referred to EDN, JHA, FIN, referral sheet 4
2025-01-23 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2025-01-22 H
Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO EDUCATION.
Law Enforcement; Education; Career Development; Workforce Readiness ($)
Establishes a high school law enforcement curriculum-to-career pipeline initiative. Appropriates funds to develop and implement the program.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB1196

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1196

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to education
.

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

����
SECTION 1.
�
Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as
follows:

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"
�302A-

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High school law enforcement
career-pipeline initiative.
�

(a)
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There shall be created in the
department a high school law enforcement curriculum-to-career-pipeline
initiative.

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(b)
�
The purpose of the high school law
enforcement curriculum-to-career-pipeline initiative shall be to enable
students to pursue training and qualified experiences, as approved by a
school's administration, pertaining to the field of law enforcement and accrue
credits to complete graduation requirements.

����
(c)
�
The department shall collaborate and consult
with the department of law enforcement and the local police departments of the
respective counties to develop and implement the high school law enforcement curriculum-to-career-pipeline
initiative.

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(d)
�
The department shall adopt and implement
specific training and education programs for careers in law enforcement.
�
In adopting such programs, the department
shall build a curriculum track to facilitate transition into post-secondary
education at the police academy of each respective county, the University of
Hawaii, and the University of Hawaii Community Colleges.

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(e)
�
The department shall offer the following to
satisfy high school graduation requirements:

����
(1)
�
An elective offering
training and mentorship opportunities with community police officers, similar
to Honolulu Police Department's Law Enforcement Explorers Program
;

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(2)
�
An age-appropriate
version of the Honolulu Police Department's Citizens Police Academy;

����
(3)
�
A course that allows students to assist school
resource officers, if one is assigned to their high school, in tasks relating
to implementing school programs, administering informational sessions, and
promoting school safety; and

����
(4)
�
A dual credit program in accordance with
section 302A-401 with the University of Hawaii and the University of Hawaii
Community Colleges for courses in fields relating to criminal justice, justice
administration, and criminology.

����
(f)
�
The department shall adopt rules pursuant to
chapter 91 to effectuate the purposes of this section.
"

SECTION 2.
�
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 2025-2026 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be
necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the purpose of developing and
implementing a high school law enforcement curriculum-to-career pipeline
initiative.
�

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The sum

appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for
the purposes of this Act.

����
SECTION 3.
�
New statutory material is underscored.

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SECTION 4.
�
This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Law
Enforcement; Education; Career Development; Workforce Readiness

Description:

Establishes
a high school law enforcement curriculum-to-career pipeline initiative.
�
Appropriates funds to develop and implement
the program.

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