H.B. 1468 Summary

• Establishes a special operations K9 unit special fund under Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 329 to receive legislative appropriations and donations for canine detection operations.

• Appropriates $7,000,000 for fiscal year 2017-2018 and $7,000,000 for fiscal year 2018-2019 to fund the special fund.

• Authorizes the department of public safety to hire 50 full-time equivalent permanent canine handler positions and deploy 50 deputy canines across the state: 30 handlers and 30 canines on Oahu, 10 handlers and 10 canines on Hawaii island, 6 handlers and 6 canines on Maui, and 4 handlers and 4 canines on Kauai.

• Directs the fund to support federal, state, and county law enforcement efforts to prevent and detect narcotics trafficking, explosives, and currency.

• Takes effect July 1, 2017.