THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	158
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

Requesting the Department of Public Safety to Convene a working group to make recommendations on how to improve security at the State Capitol.

WHEREAS, terrorism, violence, and threats of violence in public forums have become increasingly common; and

WHEREAS, after the 2020 election, protestors forced their way into the state capitols of Idaho, Michigan, and Oregon, and the United States Capitol was breached by violent protesters on January 6, 2021; and

WHEREAS, recent United States Supreme Court rulings have made it easier for individuals to carry firearms in the State; and

WHEREAS, the Judiciary, co-equal to the legislative and executive branches of government, welcomes members of the public to come to court and observe firsthand the administration of justice – but also requires all visitors to first pass through metal detectors and have their belongings undergo x-ray baggage screening; and

WHEREAS, in contrast, the Hawaii State Capitol building is known as one of the most publicly accessible capitol buildings in the nation, but is also one of the most vulnerable due to a lack of similar security measures; and

WHEREAS, the State must do more to ensure that citizen engagement does not come at the expense of public safety; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2023, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Department of Public Safety, Sheriff Division, is requested to convene a working group to make recommendations on how to improve security at the State Capitol while also maintaining a sense of openness to the public to encourage civic engagement; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the composition of the working group is requested to be as follows:

(1) Two appointees of the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

(2) Two appointees of the President of the Senate;

(3) One appointee of the Governor;

(4) One appointee of the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives; and

(5) One appointee of the Minority Leader of the Senate; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to meet and make recommendations on how to:

(1) Improve security at the State Capitol generally; and

(2) Improve security at the State Capitol during major events such as the State of the State, election nights, and opening day of the regular session; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, President of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Minority Leader of the Senate, Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, and Director of Public Safety.

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title:

Department of Public Safety; State Capitol; Security; Working Group