SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the federal Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act of 2004 (LEOSA), Public Law 108‑277, was intended to afford active and retired law enforcement officers the privilege of carrying a concealed firearm across state lines. The LEOSA was amended by the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act Improvements Act of 2010, Public Law 111-272, to include former officers who have separated after serving as law enforcement officers for ten years or more. The LEOSA was amended again by section 1089 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013, Public Law 112-239, to include a certain category of military employees with statutory powers of arrest or apprehension. However, since the enactment of the second amendment of the LEOSA, varying state approaches to implementation have hindered the consistent and effective operation of the federal law, especially with respect to qualified retired law enforcement officers.

Under the LEOSA, as amended, qualified retired law enforcement officers who wish to carry a concealed firearm in any of the fifty states are required to carry a photographic identification that is issued by the agency from which the qualified retired law enforcement officer was employed that indicates or is accompanied by a firearm certification. If the photographic identification does not indicate that the retired officer has met firearm training standards, then the photographic identification is required to be accompanied by a firearm certification that is issued by the state in which the qualified retired law enforcement officer resides or by a certified firearms instructor who is qualified to conduct firearms qualification tests for active duty officers within that state. The firearm certification must also certify that the qualified retired law enforcement officer has met, within the most recent twelve-month period, the active law enforcement standards for qualification, as determined by the state, to carry a firearm of the same type as the firearm the qualified retired law enforcement officer intends to conceal and carry. If the state that the qualified retired law enforcement officer resides in has not established any qualification standards, then standards established by any law enforcement agency within that state may be used. Currently, Hawaii has not formally established firearm qualification standards for qualified retired law enforcement officers residing in the State or a statutory framework to uniformly permit active and qualified retired law enforcement officers to carry a concealed weapon in Hawaii pursuant to the LEOSA, as amended.

The purpose of this Act is to authorize the department of the attorney general to develop and implement a state program to issue firearm qualification certifications to qualified retired law enforcement officers to carry a concealed firearm in Hawaii pursuant to the LEOSA, as amended.

SECTION 2. Chapter 134, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part I to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§134- Carrying of concealed firearm by law enforcement officers. (a) To carry a concealed firearm in this State pursuant to title 18 United States Code section 926B, a qualified law enforcement officer shall comply with all state laws, including but not limited to this chapter. If a qualified law enforcement officer is not on official duty with the officer's government agency and is carrying a concealed firearm pursuant to title 18 United States Code section 926B in this State, state law shall apply to the officer as a person with no law enforcement powers.

(b) To carry a concealed firearm in this State pursuant to title 18 United States Code section 926C, a qualified retired law enforcement officer shall comply with all state laws, including but not limited to this chapter and rules adopted under this section. Title 18 United States Code section 926C and state law shall not authorize a qualified retired law enforcement officer to act as a law enforcement officer in this State.

(c) The attorney general may issue firearm qualification certifications to qualified retired law enforcement officers, in conformity with title 18 United States Code section 926C. The attorney general may adopt, amend, and repeal rules concerning the issuance of firearm qualification certifications."

SECTION 3. Section 134-9, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§134-9 Licenses to carry. (a) In an exceptional case, when an applicant shows reason to fear injury to the applicant's person or property, the chief of police of the appropriate county may grant a license to an applicant who is a citizen of the United States of the age of twenty-one years or more or to a duly accredited official representative of a foreign nation of the age of twenty-one years or more to carry a pistol or revolver and ammunition therefor concealed on the person within the county where the license is granted. Where the urgency or the need has been sufficiently indicated, the respective chief of police may grant to an applicant of good moral character who is a citizen of the United States of the age of twenty-one years or more, is engaged in the protection of life and property, and is not prohibited under section 134-7 from the ownership or possession of a firearm, a license to carry a pistol or revolver and ammunition therefor unconcealed on the person within the county where the license is granted. The chief of police of the appropriate county, or the chief's designated representative, shall perform an inquiry on an applicant by using the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, to include a check of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement databases where the applicant is not a citizen of the United States, before any determination to grant a license is made. Unless renewed, the license shall expire one year from the date of issue.

(b) The chief of police of each county shall adopt procedures to require that any person granted a license to carry a concealed weapon on the person shall:

(1) Be qualified to use the firearm in a safe manner;

(2) Appear to be a suitable person to be so licensed;

(3) Not be prohibited under section 134-7 from the ownership or possession of a firearm; and

(4) Not have been adjudged insane or not appear to be mentally deranged.

(c) No person shall carry concealed or unconcealed on the person a pistol or revolver without being licensed to do so under this section or in compliance with sections 134-5(c) or 134-25.

(d) A fee of $10 shall be charged for each license and shall be deposited in the treasury of the county in which the license is granted.

(e) This section shall not apply to qualified law enforcement officers carrying a concealed firearm in compliance with title 18 United States Code section 926B or qualified retired law enforcement officers carrying a concealed firearm in compliance title 18 United States Code section 926C."

SECTION 4. This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.

SECTION 5. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	459
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2021		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII