STAND. COM. REP. NO. 534-20

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2020

RE: H.B. No. 2703

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 2703, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PREVENTING SCHOOL VIOLENCE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to help prevent targeted school violence in Hawaii by:

(1) Establishing a pilot program to establish a start-to-finish response to threats of targeted school violence; and

(2) Appropriating funds to the Department of Defense for resources.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from three individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the State Department of Defense Students, Teachers, and Officers Preventing School Violence Program; Hawaii Youth Services Network; and one individual.

Your Committee finds that although there have not been completed acts of mass violence at Hawaii schools, schools regularly receive threats of shootings and bombings. Your Committee further finds that gaps exist in inter-agency coordination, communication, and standardized responses to threats of targeted school violence in Hawaii. This measure is intended to address those gaps and help prevent targeted school violence in the State.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2703, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2703, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,

____________________________

CHRIS LEE, Chair