Report Title:

School Safety Resource Officers; Appropriation

Description:

Appropriates $391,561 for continued funding of school safety resource officer positions in central O'ahu school district.

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

80

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2003

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR SCHOOL SAFETY RESOURCE OFFICERS.

 

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that a safe learning environment is a key factor in student achievement, and student safety is a primary concern of families. According to the National School Safety Center, for the most part, violence does not begin in schools. It walks onto school premises from the neighborhood, and enters the school doors with students, educators, visitors, volunteers, predators, and even campus staff. Whatever the source of that threat to school safety, whether from the home, the community, or elsewhere, the effects of violence on learning are so destructive that educators place school safety high on their agenda of workplace issues. Teachers cannot teach and students cannot learn in an environment of intimidation and fear.

The legislature further finds that despite our best intentions, school safety cannot be legislated, but it must be developed from within the school community. It is supported by teaching positive attitudes and actions, which promote the safety, success and well-being of all children. Schools must create and maintain a safe environment to become effective places of learning, and this is best done with the help of school safety partners implementing the best of school safety research and practices to achieve the vision of safe schools for all students.

The school safety resource officer program presently operating on the secondary school campuses within the central O'ahu school district, is a model program within the state public school system, which focuses on school violence prevention and provides additional supports to school staff to address school security issues. This program was initially funded through federal grant funds, and has provided not only safer secondary school campuses, but has reached beyond these schools to network with the elementary schools within the district. Thus, the current program is serving all schools within the central O'ahu district.

The purpose of this Act is to provide state general funds to continue the school safety resource officer program within the central O'ahu school district.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $391,561, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2003-2004, for salaries and operational expenses for one safety director position and twelve school safety resource officer positions within the central O'ahu school district.

SECTION 3. The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2003.

INTRODUCED BY:

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