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SB2383
THE SENATE
S.B. NO.
2383
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
provide a $15,000 retention bonus to all eligible sworn personnel of the
department of law enforcement.
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SECTION 2.
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(a)
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The department of law
enforcement shall provide a retention bonus in the amount of $15,000 to all
eligible sworn personnel that:
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(1)
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Are
employed full-time as sworn law enforcement officers under section 353C-4,
Hawaii Revised Statutes, with the department of law enforcement within the
preceding fiscal year; and
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(2)
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Completed
at least two thousand hours of service, including regular duty hours, approved
overtime hours, approved sick leave, and approved vacation leave, during the
preceding fiscal year.
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(b)
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The department of law enforcement shall verify eligibility based on
payroll, attendance, and leave records for the preceding fiscal year.
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(c)
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The retention bonus authorized by this Act shall be:
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(1)
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Payable
on an annual basis for each fiscal year in which an officer meets the
eligibility requirements of this section;
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(2)
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Non-recurring;
and
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(3)
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Excluded
from base compensation for the purposes of future salary, retirement benefit,
or other ongoing compensation adjustment calculations, unless otherwise
required by law.
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SECTION 3.
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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 payment of
retention bonuses required by section 2 of this Act.
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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 4.
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This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.
INTRODUCED BY:
_____________________________
Report Title:
DLE;
Retention Bonus; Appropriation
Description:
Requires
the Department of Law Enforcement to provide $15,000 retention bonuses to all
eligible sworn law enforcement officers who meet specified requirements.
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Requires the Department of Law Enforcement to
verify eligibility.
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Appropriates funds
for the payment of retention bonuses.
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not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.