H.B. 1811 Summary

• Rename the Department of Law Enforcement to the "Department of the State Sheriff" to recognize the historic and culturally significant role of Hawaii's sheriffs, which dates back over 175 years to King Kamehameha III.

• Rename the director of the department (appointed by the governor) to "State Sheriff" and the two deputy directors to "Undersheriff of Law Enforcement" and "Undersheriff of Administration."

• Require the State Sheriff to designate a law enforcement officer to serve as Assistant Sheriff to the Undersheriff of Law Enforcement.

• Update Hawaii Revised Statutes throughout multiple sections to substitute "Department of the State Sheriff" and related terminology wherever "Department of Law Enforcement" appears.

• Transfer all rights, powers, functions, and duties of the Department of Law Enforcement to the Department of the State Sheriff, with existing employees retaining their salaries, seniority, benefits, and civil service status.