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HB1443 • 2026

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Education Energy
Active

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

Sponsor
MATSUMOTO, ALCOS, GARCIA, KILA, MURAOKA, PIERICK, REYES ODA, SHIMIZU, 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 details on how much funding has been allocated for the initiative.

High School Law Enforcement Career Pipeline Initiative

This bill establishes a new law enforcement curriculum-to-career pipeline initiative in high schools, allowing students to pursue training and experiences related to law enforcement careers.

What This Bill Does

  • Establishes a high school law enforcement curriculum-to-career pipeline initiative.
  • Allows the Department of Education to collaborate with local police departments to develop and implement this program.
  • Requires the department to adopt specific training and education programs for law enforcement careers, including dual credit courses in criminal justice fields.

Who It Names or Affects

  • High school students interested in law enforcement careers
  • Schools that offer the new law enforcement classes and activities

Terms To Know

Curriculum-to-career pipeline initiative
A program designed to help high school students get training and experience related to a specific career, like law enforcement.
Dual credit program
An arrangement where high school students can take college-level courses that count towards both their high school graduation requirements and college credits.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify the exact amount of funding appropriated for the initiative.
  • It is unclear which specific schools or districts will participate in this program initially.

Bill History

  1. 2025-12-08 D

    Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.

  2. 2025-01-27 H

    Referred to EDN, JHA, FIN, referral sheet 4

  3. 2025-01-23 H

    Introduced and Pass First Reading.

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 
HB1443

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1443

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

����
(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.

����
(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.

����
(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
;

����
(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.
�

����
The sum

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

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

����
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.