HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

50

TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2002

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 
   


HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY TO STUDY SAFETY AND SECURITY CONCERNS AT THE WAIPAHU CIVIC CENTER COMPLEX, THE KAPOLEI STATE OFFICE BUILDING, AND OTHER STATE OFFICE BUILDINGS WHERE STATE WORKERS CONDUCT BUSINESS DIRECTLY WITH THE PUBLIC.

 

 

WHEREAS, the first state department tenants began occupying the State of Hawaii's Waipahu Civic Center Complex in October, 1993; and

WHEREAS, six state departments with approximately 140 employees currently occupy office space and other facilities at the Waipahu Civic Center Complex; and

WHEREAS, these departments and organizations provide various services to the general public residing in the Leeward Oahu area, some of whom are individuals of relatively low income; and

WHEREAS, the Waipahu Civic Center Complex is located in a community that has been economically depressed due to the recent closure of several major employers, but is slowly beginning to realize the results of efforts to revitalize the community through the influx of new businesses and redevelopment plans; and

WHEREAS, because of the economic climate that currently prevails in the Leeward Oahu area, some of the clientele seeking assistance from agencies housed in the Waipahu Civic Center Complex have been known to be overly aggressive or exhibit behavior that has threatened the safety and security of the Civic Center Complex, its employees, and other persons who may be present; and

WHEREAS, at least 20 incidents involving theft, property damage, verbal, or physical confrontations have been documented as having occurred at the Waipahu Civic Center Complex since September 1997; and

WHEREAS, given the limited ability for area law enforcement officials or contracted security personnel to respond to all incidents in a timely manner makes for a less than adequate professional work environment; and

WHEREAS, the city of Kapolei is new, vibrant, and growing economically, and is being developed to help diversify and strengthen the economy of Leeward Oahu and the State of Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, the Kapolei State Building, which became operational in late 1998, has eight state department occupants and one private tenant with approximately 1,000 employees working in this new building, and has walk-in clientele seeking services from the state departments and the private tenant; and

WHEREAS, there have been a number of incidents that have occurred at both facilities, which have required that actions be taken to ensure the safety and security of the employees and clientele; and

WHEREAS, section 26-14.6(b), Hawaii Revised Statutes, charges the Department of Public Safety with the responsibility for the following:

(1) The formulation and implementation of state policies and objectives for correctional, security, law enforcement, and public safety programs and functions;

(2) The administration and maintenance of all correctional facilities and services; the service of process; and

(3) The security of state buildings;

and

 

WHEREAS, because of decreased state funding, the Department of Public Safety currently provides building security to the State Capitol, Washington Place, Hawaii State Hospital, Waimano Training School and Hospital, Maui Memorial Hospital, designated state libraries, Department of Defense facilities at Diamond Head, and other areas as needed; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2002, the Senate concurring, that the Department of Public Safety is requested to conduct a study on safety and security concerns at the Waipahu Civic Center Complex, the Kapolei State Office Building, and other state office buildings where state workers conduct business directly with the public; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in conducting the study, the Department of Public Safety, with the cooperation and assistance of safety and security professionals from the Department of Accounting and General Services, the Department Of Human Resources Development, the Honolulu Police Department, safety and security professionals from departments occupying the affected state office buildings, and concerned members of the state work force at those building, consider funding options to identify and implement safety and security actions that will provide adequate protection and mitigate the concerns of the employees and clientele at the Waipahu Civic Center Complex, the Kapolei State Building, and other state office buildings where state workers conduct business directly with the public; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the study shall focus on the need for, but not limited to, the following:

(1) Provision of additional full-time security officers;

(2) Alternatives to providing full-time security officers;

(3) Installation of electronic security devices with on-site and off-site monitoring capabilities;

(4) Determining the need for building safety plans;

(5) An assessment of the proper placement of State offices to minimize movement of the public throughout the building;

(6) Determine the need for building safety committees; and

(7) Provision of a limited number of emergency two-way communications devices and their placement in selected offices and facilities where there have been high numbers of negative incidents;

and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Public Safety submit a report of its findings with recommendations, including proposed draft legislation, to the Legislature no later than 20 days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2003; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, the Director of Public Safety, the Comptroller, the Attorney General, the Director of Transportation, the Director of Human Resources Development, the Honolulu Police Department Chief, the Director of Labor and Industrial Relations, the Director of Health, the Director of Human Services, the Adjutant General, and the Superintendent of Education.

Report Title:

STUDY OF SAFETY AND SECURITY AT DESIGNATED PUBLIC BUILDINGS