Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 961, H.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to codify the Department of Education's School Safety Manager Program and to make an appropriation therefor.

Your Committee finds that the children of this State require a safe and secure school environment to achieve their fullest potential academically and socially. That safe environment, however, is dependent upon the availability of expertise to attend to and address a myriad of school safety responsibilities. In many of our secondary schools, the understanding of law enforcement concepts, strategies, and techniques is necessary to ensure the safety of students and staff.

This bill provides that expertise by codifying the Department of Education's School Safety Manager Program. The program employs retired police officers to assist school administrators to ensure that plans, training, and appropriate safety systems are in place to prevent or respond to school safety problems.

Your Committee received testimony, unanimously in favor of the program, from school administrators, teachers, parents, and school safety managers. Except for the mode of funding, the Superintendent of Education also supported the bill.

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. 961, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.