Hawaii HB 2077: RELATING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.

Bill Text

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026
STATE OF HAWAII a a
A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
1 SECTION 1. Section 139-6, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
2 amended by amending subsections (a) and (b) to read as follows:
3 “(a) No person may be appointed or employed as a law
4 enforcement officer after June 30, [2026,] 2028, unless the
5 person:
6 (1) Has satisfactorily completed a basic program of law
7 enforcement training approved by the board;
8 (2) Has received training designed to minimize the use of
9 excessive force, including legal standards,
10 de-escalation techniques, crisis intervention tactics,
11 mental health response, implicit bias, and first aid;
12 and
13 (3) Possesses other qualifications as prescribed by the
14 board for the employment of law enforcement officers,
15 including minimum age, education, physic’al and mental
16 standards, citizenship, good conduct, moral character,
17 and experience.
HB LRB 26-0312.docx

Page2 H.B.NO.t~’7Z
1 (b) Beginning on July 1, [2026,] 2028, the board shall
2 issue a certification to an applicant or law enforcement officer
3 who meets the requirements of subsection (a) or who has
4 satisfactorily completed a program or course of instruction in
5 another jurisdiction that the board deems to be equivalent in
6 content and quality to the requirements of subsection (a) .“
7 SECTION 2. Section 139-7, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
8 amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:
9 “(a) No person shall be appointed or employed as a law
10 enforcement officer by any county police department, the
11 department of law enforcement, the department of land and
12 natural resources, the department of taxation, or the department
13 of the attorney general after June 30, [2026,] 2028, unless the
14 person possesses a valid certification issued by the board
15 pursuant to section 139-6 (b) .“
16 SECTION 3. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed
17 and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
HB IJRB 26-0312.docx 2

H.B. NO. Z’?77
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
2
4~e~e4~”-INTRODUCED BY:
By Request
JAN 232026
HB LRB 26-03l2.docx 3

H.B. NO. U~77
Report Title:
Hawaii Law Enforcement Coalition Package; Standards Board;
Certification; Extension
Description:
Establishes new deadlines for the completion of Law Enforcement
Standards Board certification responsibilities.
The summary description oflegislation appearing on this page is forinformational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence oflegislative intent.
HB LRB 26-0312.docx