Law enforcement standards board; establishment

(a) There shall be established the law enforcement standards board within the department of the attorney general for administrative purposes only. The purpose of the board shall be to provide programs and standards for training and certification of law enforcement officers. The law enforcement standards board shall consist of the following voting members: eight ex officio individuals or their designees, five law enforcement officers, four members of the public, and one member selected by the union representing police officers in the State; provided that: (1) The eight ex officio members of the board shall consist of the: (A) Attorney general or the attorney general's designee; (B) Director of law enforcement or the director's designee; (C) Chairperson of the board of land and natural resources or the chairperson's designee; (D) Director of taxation or the director's designee; and (E) Chiefs of police of the four counties or the designees of each of the chiefs of police; (2) The five law enforcement officers shall be persons other than the chiefs of police or designees described in paragraph (1)(E) and shall consist of: (A) One county law enforcement officer from each of the four counties; and (B) One state law enforcement officer. Each law enforcement officer described in this paragraph shall have at least ten years of experience as a law enforcement officer, shall be appointed by the governor, and, notwithstanding section 26-34, shall be appointed without the advice and consent of the senate; and (3) The public members shall consist of one member from each of the four counties, each of whom shall be appointed by the governor, and, notwithstanding section 26-34, shall be appointed without the advice and consent of the senate. At least two of the four members of the public holding a position on the board at any given time shall: (A) Possess a master's or doctorate degree related to criminal justice; (B) Possess a law degree and have experience: (i) Practicing in Hawaii as a deputy attorney general, deputy prosecutor, deputy public defender, or private criminal defense attorney; or (ii) Litigating constitutional law issues in Hawaii; (C) Be a recognized expert in the field of criminal justice, policing, or security; or (D) Have work experience in a law enforcement capacity. (b) The law enforcement officers, member selected by the union representing police officers in the State, and the members of the public on the board shall serve for a term of four years; provided that the initial terms for the law enforcement officers and the public members shall be staggered, as determined by the governor. (c) The law enforcement officers and the members of the public on the board shall receive no salary for their duties as members of the board, but shall be entitled to reimbursement for expenses, including travel expenses, necessary for the performance of their duties as board members.