RELATING TO HATE CRIMES.

HB614

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

614

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to hate crimes
.

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

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SECTION 1.
�
The legislature finds that comprehensive data
collection and timely reporting are essential to effectively address hate
crimes and protect communities from bias-motivated violence.
�
Amending Hawaii's existing hate crimes law to
mandate the collection of data of all reported possible hate crimes will
improve transparency, enhance accountability, and provide policymakers and law
enforcement with critical tools to address these crimes.

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The purpose of this Act is to
require the reporting of all reported possible hate crimes to appropriate
authorities and to ensure the consistent documentation and analysis of such
incidents.

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SECTION 2.
�
Section 846-1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended as follows:

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1.
�

By adding a new definition to be appropriately inserted and to read:

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"
"Reported hate
crime" means any reported incident, regardless of whether it results in
criminal charges, where there is evidence or indication that bias or prejudice
may have been a motivating factor.
"

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2.
�

By amending the definition of "hate crime data" to read:

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""Hate crime data"
means information, incident reports, records, and statistics relating to hate
crimes[
,
]
and reported hate crimes,
collected by the attorney
general."

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SECTION
3
.
�
Section 846-52,
Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsections (a) and (b) to read
as follows:

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"
(a)
�
The department of

the attorney general shall be responsible for the collection,
storage, dissemination, and analysis of all

hate crime data
and reported hate crimes
from all agencies that have
primary investigative, action, or program responsibility for adult or juvenile
offenses, including the county police departments, the county prosecutors, the
family courts, and the departments or agencies responsible for administering
any correctional facilities.

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(b)
�

The attorney general shall develop the system and the procedures for
reporting, inputting, accessing, and protecting the information concerning the
commission of hate crimes and
reported hate crimes and
obtaining the
agreement of agencies permitted to directly input and access information."

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SECTION
4
.
�
Section 846-53,
Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

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"
[
[
]�846-53[
]
]
�
Responsibility of agencies[
.
]
;
law enforcement training.
�
(a)
�
Agencies that have investigative, detention,
custodial, adjudicative, or program responsibility for adult or juvenile
offenses shall cooperate with the attorney general in establishing the hate
crime reporting system by:

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(1)
�
Providing
information in the agency files that can be included pursuant to the format
approved by the attorney general;
provided that the information shall
include the following:

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(A)
�
The
nature of the offense, including specific evidence or indicators of bias;

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(B)
�
The
demographic information of the victim or victims and suspect or suspects, if
known;

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(C)
�
The
location and date of the incident;

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(D)
�
The
status of the investigation and any resulting criminal charges or resolutions;
and

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(E)
�
Any
other information deemed necessary by the attorney general;

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(2)
�
Maintaining
procedures internally consistent with uniform procedures and guidelines provided
by the attorney general;

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(3)
�
Reporting
information to the attorney general that is timely, complete, and accurate
after the occurrence of an event over which the agency had direct
responsibility; and

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(4)
�
Maintaining
procedures for the periodic checking of information to minimize the possibility
of storing and maintaining inaccurate information.

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(b)
�
Law enforcement officers shall receive annual
training to identify, investigate, and document hate crimes and possible hate
crimes, including guidance on recognizing bias indicators and interacting with
impacted communities.

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(c)
�
Failure to comply with the reporting
requirements of this section may result in administrative penalties as
determined by the attorney general.
"

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SECTION
5.
�
The attorney general shall establish
or update guidelines, protocols, and training materials for the reporting and
investigation of hate crimes and possible hate crimes within ninety days of the
effective date of this Act.

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SECTION
6.
�
Statutory material to be repealed is
bracketed and stricken.
�
New statutory
material is underscored.

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SECTION 7.
�
This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Hate
Crimes; Reporting; Agencies; Training; Attorney General

Description:

Defines
"reported hate crime".
�

Requires reporting of all possible reported hate crimes to appropriate
authorities, including consistent documentation and analysis of such incidents.
�
Requires law enforcement officers to receive
annual training to identify, investigate, and document hate crimes and possible
hate crimes.
�
Requires the Attorney General
to establish or update guidelines, protocols, and training materials for the
reporting and investigation of hate crimes and possible hate crimes.

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