Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 816 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds and to provide permanent position counts for the central Oahu school district safety resource officer program.

Testimony in support this measure was submitted by the Department of Education and a central Oahu school complex area superintendent.

Your Committee finds that a safe learning environment is one of the cornerstones of academic achievement. Your Committee further finds that the safety resource officer program has successfully addressed myriad school safety issues, primarily relying upon the expertise of retired law enforcement officials. Your Committee notes, however, that while a law enforcement background is important to the ongoing success of the program, all safety resource officers should receive training in working with youth to ensure that the officers respond appropriately in all situations involving student safety.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

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. 816, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 816, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.