REQUESTING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A COURT SECURITY AND DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT CAPACITY WORKING GROUP TO ADDRESS SYSTEMIC STAFFING SHORTAGES, EXPANDED STATUTORY RESPONSIBILITIES, AND THE ESCALATING FISCAL AND ACCOUNTABILITY RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH PRIVATE SECURITY CONTRACTING AT STATE COURTS.

This Senate Resolution requests the creation of a working group to study staffing shortages and security challenges at Hawaii state courts. The group would examine how the Department of Law Enforcement has expanded duties without matching increases in Deputy Sheriff positions, leading to reliance on private security contractors. The working group would include leaders from the judiciary, law enforcement, human resources, finance, and the attorney general to evaluate solutions for stabilizing public security staffing and reducing long-term costs of private contracts.