THE SENATE	S.R. NO.	140
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE RESOLUTION

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO ASSIGN SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS OR GUARDS TO SERVE AT EACH PUBLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND STATE PREKINDERGARTEN PROGRAM.

WHEREAS, in recent years, several disturbing incidents have occurred relating to school safety; and

WHEREAS, in March 2018, at Kipapa Elementary School, a boy reported that a man approached him in a school restroom and tried to grab his hand; and

WHEREAS, in December 12, 2019, a police manhunt in Waipahu prompted officials at Waipahu High School and August Ahrens Elementary School to place those schools on lockdown; and

WHEREAS, on February 27, 2020, following a report of a man armed with a gun in Ewa Beach, Ilima Intermediate School, Pohakea Elementary School, Kaimiloa Elementary School, and Campbell High School initiated a lockdown; and

WHEREAS, elementary school students often lack the capacity to properly assess and identify the potential dangers posed by the presence of individuals who are not authorized to be present on a school's campus; and

WHEREAS, to ensure that those children may learn in safe environments, the State must act to deter the presence of unauthorized individuals from those school campuses; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2023, that the Department of Education is requested to assign school resource officers or guards registered pursuant to Chapter 463, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to serve at each public elementary school and state prekindergarten program during hours when students are expected to be on the school campus; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in determining the number of officers or guards to be assigned to each public elementary school or state prekindergarten program, the Department of Education is requested to consider; and

(1) The size of the school campus;

(2) The number of students in the school or program; and

(3) Other factors relevant to student safety; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Education is requested to seek federal grants to the extent necessary to cover the costs of hiring school resource officers and registered guards; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Education and Superintendent of Education.

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Department of Education; Elementary Schools; Safety; Guards