Bill Text: HI HB1477 | 2014 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: School Safety; Crime; Task Force

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 14-4)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-12-18 - Carried over to 2014 Regular Session. [HB1477 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2014-HB1477-Introduced.html

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1477
TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2013
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to school safety TASK FORCE.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that while allowing school doors to be locked is one step that can be taken to help secure our classrooms during a school shooting, concerns remain regarding cost and compliance with the fire code.  The legislature additionally acknowledges that locking doors and other security measures were not sufficient to stop the 2012 school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut.  In the wake of that and other tragedies, the State should examine ways to increase school security without waiting until a similar tragedy at one of our schools pushes us to take action.

     The purpose of this Act is to create a task force to determine how to increase safety in our schools.

     SECTION 2.  (a)  There shall be established a task force that shall, at a minimum:

     (1)  Examine the need for safety improvements in Hawaii's public and private schools;

     (2)  Determine whether the Hawaii Revised Statutes should be amended in order to ensure that preparations of schools within this State are adequate in reducing vulnerability to violent crimes;

     (3)  Determine the effectiveness of current school safety measures such as lockdowns and emergency drills;

     (4)  Determine the propriety of amending the law to allow for classroom occupants to lock classroom doors from the inside;

     (5)  Determine the immediate need for appropriation of funds to public schools to improve their security; and

     (6)  Determine the propriety of an expedited procedure for private schools to obtain school safety improvement funding through the application process for grants and subsidies established under chapter 42F, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

     (b)  The members of the task force shall include:

     (1)  A representative of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security;

     (2)  A representative of the U.S. Department of Education;

     (3)  The chair of the senate committee on education, to serve as co-chair;

     (4)  The chair of the senate committee on public safety, government operations, and military affairs;

     (5)  The chair of the house committee on education, to serve as co-chair;

     (6)  The chair of the house committee on public safety and military affairs;

     (7)  The attorney general, or the attorney general's designee;

     (8)  The superintendent of education, or the superintendent's designee;

     (9)  The director of public safety, or the director's designee;

    (10)  The director of finance, or the director's designee;

    (11)  One member selected by the president of the senate;

    (12)  One member selected by the speaker of the house of representatives;

    (13)  The police chiefs of the counties of Kauai, Maui, and Hawaii, and the city and county of Honolulu, or each police chief's respective designee;

    (14)  The fire chiefs of the counties of Kauai, Maui, and Hawaii, and the city and county of Honolulu, or each fire chief's respective designee;

    (15)  The director of the charter school administrative office, or the director's designee; and

    (16)  A representative of the Hawaii Association of Independent Schools.

     (c)  The task force shall meet a minimum of five times before January 1, 2014. 

     (d)  The task force shall report its findings and recommendations, including proposed legislation, if any, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2014. 

     (e)  The task force shall cease to exist on June 30, 2014.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

 

 

Report Title:

School Safety; Crime; Task Force

 

Description:

Creates a task force to examine the issue of safety in Hawaii's schools.

 

 

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