HI HR183

Requests establishment of a Court Security and Department of Law Enforcement Capacity Working Group to address Deputy Sheriff staffing shortages and growing reliance on private security contractors at Hawaii state courts.

The working group would include designees from the Hawaii Supreme Court, Department of Law Enforcement, Human Resources Development, Finance, Attorney General, and affected bargaining unit representatives.

Tasks include evaluating staffing alignment with statutory responsibilities, stabilizing Deputy Sheriff recruitment and retention, and reducing long-term fiscal dependence on private security contracting.

The working group must review mission scope, facility-level security needs, workforce challenges including compensation competitiveness and training capacity, private contracting costs, and accountability concerns with contracted security.

A report with findings, recommendations, and proposed legislation is due to the Legislature no later than twenty days before the Regular Session of 2027.