STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1374

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2005

RE: S.C.R. No. 171

S.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 171 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII TO SUBMIT A REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE REGARDING ITS ACTIONS TO INCREASE SAFETY AND SECURITY ON ITS CAMPUSES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the University of Hawaii to submit a report to the Legislature regarding its actions to increase safety and security on its campuses.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from University of Hawaii and the University of Hawaii Student Caucus.

The University of Hawaii at Manoa campus consists of approximately 50,000 day and night students, of which more than 3,000 reside on the Manoa campus.

The University of Hawaii is firmly committed to providing a safe and secure campus environment as set forth in its policies and procedures that is designed to ensure that every possible precautionary measure is taken to protect persons and property.

Safety and security issues have been longstanding concerns on University of Hawaii campuses statewide and, with the growth of the university system, an increase in crimes against persons and property has become a concern.

The Fall 2003 University of Hawaii at Manoa Campus Annual Crime Report indicated there was an increase in the number of violent crimes on campus, including hate crimes, arsons, and other related offenses, as well as seven offenses of forcible sex, ten offenses of arson, eight offenses of aggravated assault, and one hundred and twenty eight offenses of burglary.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Updating the crime statistics from 2003 to 2004 that included three forcible sex offenses and seventy-seven offenses of burglary and no offenses of aggravated assault; and

(2) Adding private sector security agencies to be included in the task force.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 171, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs, in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 171, S.D. 1.

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

____________________________

CLAYTON HEE, Chair