HR65

WHEREAS, students traveling to, from, and on school campuses face many dangers; and

WHEREAS, the State has enacted many laws specifically to protect students and has established enhanced penalties for some crimes conducted on or near school campuses; and

WHEREAS, many members of the public are unaware of the many laws protecting students; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2023, that the Attorney General is requested to form a task force to research and compile a list of laws applicable to the protection of students; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the list of laws include laws, ordinances, and rules that:

(1) Specifically prohibit or require actions on school grounds or within a specified distance of a school;

(2) Address offenses under chapter 707, part V, Hawaii Revised Statutes, related to sexual offenses;

(3) Prohibit vandalism;

(4) Involve traffic violations that could occur near schools;

(5) Prohibit theft; or

(6) Address sitting or lying down in public spaces; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to consist of the following individuals or their designees:

(1) The Attorney General, who shall serve as the chair of the task force;

(2) The Superintendent of Education;

(3) The Chiefs of Police of the county police departments;

(4) The Prosecuting Attorneys of each of the counties;

(5) The Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness; and

(6) The Mayor's or County Coordinators on Homelessness of each of the counties; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to invite any other individuals that the task force deems necessary or beneficial to become members of the task force; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to draft a school laws summary that:

(1) Summarizes each applicable law in a manner that is easy for members of the public to understand; and

(2) Can be used by first responders and community groups to protect students while they are on or near schools; and

by the beginning of the 2024 Regular Session, distribute the school laws summary to state and county offices and make it easily accessible to download from State and county websites; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that task force members are requested to assist their respective departments in distributing the school laws summary; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to develop a separate list or guidance on how to maintain and update the school laws summary; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to submit a report on its progress of drafting and distributing the school laws summary and proposed legislation, if any, no later than twenty days before the Regular Session of 2024; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Attorney General, Superintendent of Education, Chiefs of Police of the county police departments, Prosecuting Attorneys of each of the counties, and Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness.

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

Students; Protection; Schools; Attorney General; Task force; Law Summary

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	65
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023
STATE OF HAWAII