Pubdate: Sat, 29 Mar 2003
Source: Honolulu Advertiser (HI)
Copyright: 2003 The Honolulu Advertiser, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.
Contact:  http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/195
Author: Gordon Y.K. Pang

SENATE COMMITTEE POSTPONES BILL FOR ANTI-DRUG AGENCY

A bill establishing an anti-drug task force on the Big Island through
tobacco settlement money has been deferred for the time being by the Senate
Ways and Means Committee.

Ways and Means Vice Chairman Russell Kokubun, D-2nd (S. Hilo, Puna, Ka'u),
said he and Chairman Brian Taniguchi, D-10th (Manoa, McCully) want to study
concerns raised by the attorney general's office and the Hawai'i County
Police Department before deciding whether to move it out of committee.

Both Taniguchi and Kokubun said they expected the bill, or some form of it,
will be voted on this session.

House Bill 297 HD2 SD1 would tap $600,000 annually to contractually hire
retired law enforcement officials to staff the strike force, which would be
tasked with raiding drug houses, arresting drug dealers and other
drug-related actions. The agency would be attached to the Department of
Public Safety.

The measure would also provide financing for crystal methamphetamine
treatment and an adolescent treatment center on the

Big Island. It also calls for establishing a drug czar's office within the
office of the lieutenant governor.

James Propotnick, interim public safety director, submitted written
testimony stating the proposal "does not have a stable funding source for
the enforcement component."

Big Island police officials, meanwhile, said they oppose the creation of the
strike force. Not only could drug enforcement money be better spent on
existing programs, but the use of what essentially amounts to private
investigators is also questionable, said Big Island Police Chief Lawrence
Mahuna.

Proponents of the bill, most notably House members from the Big Island, say
the strike force would focus on areas where police don't have enough
manpower.
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