STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2376

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2002

RE: S.B. No. 2791

S.D.1

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 2791 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII STATE PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to deem sex offenders ineligible for employment for any position within the Hawaii State Public Library System.

Your Committee received testimony in favor of the measure from the Attorney General and State Librarian.

Your Committee finds that heightened awareness of sexual harassment and abuse establishes a greater potential of liability and affects the morale of employees. Library patrons, as well as staff, would benefit from this measure, as year-round events (including the Summer Reading and Read—To—Me programs) serve hundreds of children and teens from pre—schools, public and private schools, and adults daily at all 50 libraries. This measure will instill confidence and a greater sense of security in employees and patrons.

Your Committee has amended the measure by:

(1) Deleting a reference to Hawaii State Public Library System employees as a subcategory of the Department of Education staff, as similar language in another portion of the bill will suffice; and

(2) Correcting language to accurately reflect the language in the Hawaii Revised Statutes; and

(3) Making technical amendments to reflect preferred drafting style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2791, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Education,

____________________________

NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair