HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2685

TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2016

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO THE STATE CAPITOL.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that in our post-September 11th world, terrorism, violence, and threats of violence in public forums have become increasingly common and our state government must do more to ensure that citizen engagement does not come at the expense of public safety.  At the federal level, the United States Department of Homeland Security's Interagency Security Committee, whose mission is to develop security standards and best practices for nonmilitary federal facilities, has issued guidance detailing "best practices" and recommendations for the protection of federal facilities, employees, contractors, and visitors, and these recommendations include using security countermeasures such as metal detectors and x-ray machines at pedestrian and public entrances of federal buildings.  According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, twenty-eight states currently utilize walk-through metal detectors at the public entrances of their capitol buildings.  In Hawaii, the judiciary, co-equal to the legislative and executive branches of government, welcomes members of the public to come to court and observe firsthand the administration of justice – but also requires all visitors to first pass through metal detectors and have their personal belongings undergo x-ray baggage screening. In contrast, the Hawaii state capitol building is known as one of the most publicly accessible capitol buildings in the nation, but is also one of the most vulnerable – precisely because there are no provisions for mandatory security screening of visitors.

     The legislature also finds that the value of open access to "the people's house" must be balanced with the need to ensure the physical safety and well-being of the visiting public, capitol staff, legislators, and other building occupants.  The legislature further finds that it is within the purview of the state capitol management committee, established pursuant to Act 97 of the regular session of 2014 and now codified in section 6E-34.5, to develop and implement a master security plan that will increase safety and security in the Hawaii state capitol building through the mandatory use of metal detectors, x-ray scans of baggage, and other prudent measures.  The development and implementation of such a security plan is consistent with the committee's authority to oversee and manage the state capitol and approve all policies and procedures relating to the state capitol's general operation and management and its grounds and facilities, including general security policies.

     The purpose of this Act is to:

     (1)  Require the state capitol management committee to develop and implement a master security plan that will increase safety and security in the Hawaii state capitol building through the mandatory use of metal detectors, x-ray scans of baggage, and other prudent measures; and

     (2)  Specify that development and implementation of the plan is to occur in four phases and be completed by December 31, 2020.

     SECTION 2.  The state capitol management committee shall develop and implement a master security plan that will increase safety and security in the state capitol building through the mandatory use of metal detectors, x-ray scans of baggage, and other prudent measures. 

     The development and implementation of the master security plan shall be divided into phases and shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

     (1)  Phase I – Discussion of ideas proposed by members of the state capitol management committee as well as input solicited from members of the public, capitol staff, legislators, and other building occupants;

     (2)  Phase II – Development of a master security plan, including prioritization and decision-making as to what security measures the plan should include besides mandatory use of metal detectors and x-ray scans of baggage, securing of necessary cooperation from other government agencies and departments, research into what fiscal resources are needed, and passage of any legislation necessary for implementation of the master security plan;

     (3)  Phase III – Securing of funding for, and implementation of, security measures deemed by the state capitol management committee to be a short-term priority; and

     (4)  Phase IV – Securing of funding for, and implementation of, security measures deemed by the state capitol management committee to be a longer term priority.

     The timeline for completion of the various phases of the

master security plan shall be as follows:

     (1)  July 1, 2016 through December 31, 2016 for completion of Phase I;

     (2)  January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2017 for completion of Phase II;

     (3)  January 1, 2018 through December 31, 2018 for completion of Phase III; and

     (4)  January 1, 2019 through December 31, 2020 for completion of Phase IV.

     SECTION 3.  The state capitol management committee shall submit to the legislature a written report of its progress on the master security plan no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021 legislative sessions.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.


 

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

State Capitol Building; Master Security Plan.

 

Description:

Requires the State Capitol Management Committee to develop and implement in phases a master security plan to increase safety and security in the Hawaii state capitol building through the mandatory use of metal detectors, x-ray scans of baggage, and other prudent measures.

 

 

 

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