STAND

STAND. COM. REP. NO.869-02

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2002

RE: S.B. No. 2791

S.D. 2

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 2791, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII STATE PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is help ensure the safety and security of the Hawaii State Public Library System (HSPLS) by requiring employees, or prospective employees, of the HSPLS to:

(1) Submit a sworn statement indicating whether or not the person has ever been convicted of an offense for which incarceration is a sentencing option;

(2) Provide written consent for the HSPLS to conduct a criminal history record check; and

(3) Allow themselves to be fingerprinted for the purpose of the Federal Bureau of Investigation criminal history record check.

The Attorney General and the Library System supported this bill.

Your Committee recognizes the importance of ensuring a safe and secure environment for patrons of state libraries. This is especially the case since library programs serve hundreds of children throughout the State on a daily basis. Allowing the HSPLS to conduct background checks and other measures to screen its employees, or prospective employees, will help protect children, other patrons, and library employees from becoming victimized by criminals, including sex offenders.

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 S.B. No. 2791, S.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs.

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

		____________________________ KEN ITO, Chair