STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2375

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2576

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Education and Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2576 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Require the Department of Education to ensure that all classroom doors have interior locks installed by January 1, 2019, and that intercom systems are installed by January 1, 2020;

(2) Mandate that the Department of Education establish an emergency management plan for all public schools that are updated yearly and include annual mandatory emergency preparedness orientations and training; and

(3) Require emergency preparedness training for all teachers and school staff as well as emergency practice drills at every school, some of which must be during inopportune times of the school day.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Maui Police Department; Ho‘omana Pono, LLC; and five individuals. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Health, Department of Education, and State Public Charter School Commission.

Your Committees find that Hawaii's public schools continue to be safe and secure places for students, teachers, and staff. In case of an emergency or security threat, it is essential that schools have adequate infrastructure, emergency preparedness plans in place, and professional development and training of teachers and staff. This measure ensures that students, teachers, and staff are safe in Hawaii's public schools by improving infrastructure, establishing and updating emergency management plans, and increasing professional development and training in emergency preparedness.

Your Committees have amended this measure by placing the new language amending section 302A-1133, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to require the Department of Education to establish an emergency management plan for all schools, into a new section in chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, for purposes of clarity.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Education and Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2576, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2576, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Education and Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs,

________________________________ CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair

________________________________ MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair