STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3643

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2703

H.D. 2

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 2703, H.D. 2, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Establish a pilot program to prevent targeted school violence; and

(2) Appropriate funds to the Office of Homeland Security to prevent targeted school violence.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education, Department of Human Services, Hawaii Department of Defense, and State Public Charter School Commission.

Your Committee finds that providing intervention services and preventing violence in schools is an important responsibility the State has regarding Hawaii's children. The establishment of a threat assessment program in the Department of Education has been a priority of the department's Safety, Security, and Emergency Preparedness Branch for over three years. This measure would provide the Department of Education with the resources necessary to act proactively to keep youth safe.

Your Committee has amended this measure by inserting an effective date of July 1, 2055, to encourage further discussion.

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

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

________________________________

MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair