HI SCR29

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

Working group would include the Chief Justice, Director of Law Enforcement, Directors of Human Resources Development and Finance, Attorney General, and affected bargaining unit representatives.

Group tasked with evaluating mission scope alignment, minimum safe staffing needs, recruitment and retention challenges, private contracting costs versus public staffing restoration, and accountability risks of using private security.

Report with findings, recommendations, and proposed legislation due to the Legislature no later than twenty days before the 2027 Regular Session convenes.

Resolution cites concerns that private security contractors lack the same constitutional accountability standards, transparency requirements, and disciplinary frameworks as sworn public officers, raising use-of-force and liability issues.