RELATING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.

SB2382

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2382

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to law enforcement
.

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

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SECTION
1.
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The legislature finds that sworn law
enforcement personnel of the department of law enforcement perform statewide
public safety functions that are essential to the protection of life, property,
and the rule of law throughout the State.
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These functions include providing law enforcement services at the
courts, the Hawaii state capitol, airports, and harbors, as well as conducing
cyber investigations, agricultural enforcement, fireworks enforcement, warrant
service, evictions, and participation in joint state and federal task force
operations.
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The department's
responsibilities are specialized, high-risk, and statewide in scope, requiring
advanced training, certification, and operational readiness.

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The
legislature further finds that significant disparities in compensation exist
between sworn personnel employed by the department of law enforcement and
similarly situated sworn officers employed by county police departments.
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These disparities have created a persistent
and growing gap in pay for comparable training, certification, risk exposure,
and professional responsibility.

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The
legislature recognizes that the department of law enforcement competes in the
same labor market for qualified sworn officers but is constrained by salary
structures that are materially lower than those offered by county police
departments.
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As a result, the department
faces increasing difficulty in recruiting new officers, retaining experienced
personnel, and preventing the loss of trained staff to higher paying law
enforcement agencies.
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This turnover
diminishes institutional knowledge, increases overtime and training costs, and
weakens the continuity and effectiveness of statewide law enforcement
operations.

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The
legislature further finds that recruiting and retaining sworn personnel is
particularly challenging given Hawaii's high cost of living, demanding work
conditions, and the specialized nature of the department of law enforcement's
mission.
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Without targeted intervention,
the department will continue to experience staffing instability that threatens
operational readiness and public safety.

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Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to
establish the kupaa retention bonus program to promote recruitment, retention,
and continuity of service within the department of law enforcement.

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SECTION 2.
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Chapter 353C, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new
section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

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"
�353C-
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Kupaa
retention bonus program; established.
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(a)
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There is established in the department the
kupaa retention bonus program for sworn law enforcement officers to provide
monetary awards to promote recruitment, retention, and continuity of services
within the department.

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(b)
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The department shall administer the program as
follows:

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(1)
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A
sworn law enforcement officer who is a full-time employee of the department
shall be eligible to receive a retention bonus if the officer has worked a
minimum of two thousand hours, including regular duty hours, approved overtime,
sick leave, and vacation leave, during the preceding fiscal year;

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(2)
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The
department shall award a retention bonus of $15,000 to each eligible sworn law
enforcement officer who satisfies the requirements of this section for the
applicable fiscal year;

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(3)
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The
retention bonus awarded shall be a non-base, non-pensionable payment and shall
not be included in the calculation of base salary, retirement benefits, or any
other salary-based benefit; and

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(4)
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The
department shall retain records related to the program, including the number of
sworn officers receiving bonuses, years of service, assignment categories, and
any other information the department deems necessary to administer the program;
provided that the department shall provide the information only in aggregate
form and shall not disclose personally identifiable information.

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(c)
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After June 30, 2028, no bonuses shall be issued under this section;
provided that any obligations properly incurred before that date shall be paid.

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(d)
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As used in this section:

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"Bonus" means a one-time,
non-base payment awarded in addition to an officer's regular salary.

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"Sworn law enforcement
officer" means any full-time employee of the department appointed to be a
state law enforcement officer pursuant to section 353C-4.
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SECTION 3.
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The department of law enforcement shall submit a report to the
legislature no later than December 1, 2028, evaluating the effectiveness of the
kupaa retention bonus program established by section 2 of this Act.
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The report shall include:

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(1)
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The
number of sworn law enforcement officers that have received a retention bonus
for each fiscal year;

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(2)
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Changes
in vacancy rates, turnover, and average length of service among sworn personnel
during the period of implementation;

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(3)
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An
assessment of the program's impact on recruitment, retention, and operational
readiness;

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(4)
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A
fiscal analysis comparing the costs of the program with savings or cost
avoidance attributable to reduced overtime, reduced training and onboarding of
new officers, and improved workforce stability; and

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(5)
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Any
recommendations regarding the continuation, modification, or termination of the
program beyond the sunset date.

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SECTION 4.
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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 2026-2027 for the kupaa law
enforcement retention bonus program to provide retention bonuses in the amount
of $15,000 to eligible sworn law enforcement officers.

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The sum appropriated shall be expended by
the department of law enforcement for the purposes of this Act.

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SECTION 5.
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New statutory material is underscored.

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SECTION 6.
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This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2026, and shall repeal on June 30,
2028.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Department
of Law Enforcement; Kupaa Retention Bonus Program; Law Enforcement Retention;
Staffing; Appropriation

Description:

Establishes
the Kupaa Retention Bonus Program to be administered by the department of law
enforcement to provide $15,000 retention bonuses to eligible sworn law
enforcement officers that have worked a minimum of two thousand hours during
the preceding fiscal year.
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Requires the
department of law enforcement to report to the legislature on the effectiveness
of the Kupaa Retention Bonus Program.
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Appropriates funds for the Kupaa Retention Bonus Program.
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Sunsets 6/30/2028.
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The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.