HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2125
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022		H.D. 2
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO OFFICIAL SCHOOL BUSINESS.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The purpose of this Act is to provide increased protection for educational workers to conduct school business by:

(1) Requiring the department of education and board of education to take certain steps to better address harassment of its employees; and

(2) Establishing the offense of harassment of an educational worker.

SECTION 2. Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§302A-    Harassment; reporting; procedures; claims; legal actions; training. (a) The department shall:

(1) Report all substantial incidents of harassment to the proper law enforcement authority;

(2) Implement procedures for handling harassment of its employees, including employees excluded from collective bargaining under chapter 89;

(3) Assign employees within the department to handle harassment claims; and

(4) Assist its employees with any legal actions that may arise from harassment.

(b) The department and board shall implement trainings for its staff on how to use de-escalation techniques and handle harassment from outside actors."

SECTION 3. Chapter 711, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§711-    Harassment of an educational worker. (1) A person commits the offense of harassment of an educational worker if, with intent to impede the government operations of an educational worker, that person disrupts or interferes with the administration or functions of any school, school administration office, or school board.

(2) Harassment of an educational worker is a misdemeanor.

(3) For the purposes of this section, "educational worker" means any administrator, specialist, counselor, teacher, or employee of the department of education or an employee of a public charter school; a person who is a volunteer, as defined in section 90-1, in a school program, activity, or function that is established, sanctioned, or approved by the department of education; or a person hired by the department of education on a contractual basis and engaged in carrying out a department of education function."

SECTION 4. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.

Report Title:

Harassment of an Educational Worker; Misdemeanor; DOE; BOE

Description:

Requires DOE and BOE to take certain steps to better address harassment of its employees. Creates the offense of harassment of an educational worker for disrupting or interfering with the administration or functions of any school, school administration office, or school board. Effective 7/1/2050. (HD2)

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