Read the full stored bill text
HB1252
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H.B. NO.
1252
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025
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 the controversial
nature of the work of public officials can lend itself to threats, and at
times, acts of violence.
�
Despite these
truths, the state of Hawaii lacks appropriate security measures in the capitol�s
rotunda and surrounding areas in case such events occur.
�
Such lacking security measures include the
restriction of unauthorized vehicular access to the underground public parking
facility to prevent tragic incidents such as the 1995 truck bombing of the
Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
����
The legislature also finds that in
February 2019, a fatal shooting of an intoxicated individual near the Hawaii state
capitol rotunda posed a serious threat to the building and public safety,
necessitating increased security personnel and barriers to further prevent
unauthorized access.
�
In January 2024,
the Hawaii state capitol, in addition to nearly two dozen other state capitols
across the nation, were faced with a potential bomb threat, further
highlighting the potential for serious security breaches.
����
The legislature finds that while the
Hawaii state capitol�s architecture was designed with the intent of openness
and ease of public access, it must be moderated with said security measures to
protect public safety while keeping our democratic system operating in the
safest possible manner.
�
Further,
legislators, employees, and other staff should not be exempt from entrance
security requirements.
�
The Violence
Project reports that seventy per cent of workplace related mass shooters are
motivated by an employment issue.
�
Therefore, effective security requires consistency without exceptions.
����
The purpose of this Act is to build
upon the security measures that have been recently implemented at the Hawaii
state capitol, such as metal detectors, to ensure the building is a place where
the public and public officials feel safe from violence.
����
SECTION 2.
�
(a)
�
The department of accounting and general services and the department of
public safety, in consultation with the legislature and any other applicable
entity, shall promptly plan and implement security improvements at the state capitol,
which shall include, at a minimum, the following:
����
(1)
�
Controlled access
points, which all individuals entering the building including legislators,
employees, and guests shall be subject to, on the rotunda and chamber levels featuring
appropriate equipment, including x-ray machines, to detect weapons and other
contraband;
����
(2)
�
Fencing or other
appropriate barriers to prevent:
���������
(A)
�
Unauthorized
vehicles from entering the capitol grounds; and
���������
(B)
�
Unauthorized
access to the capitol rotunda; and
����
(3)
�
The employment of
private personnel to staff controlled access points to screen for weapons and
contraband, effectuate the security improvements, and perform these duties in
coordination with the law enforcement personnel of the State and county.
����
(b)
�
The department of land and natural resources state historic preservation
division shall promptly evaluate the potential necessity of any exemptions from
applicable historic preservation designations or related restrictions to
accomplish the security improvements.
�
The state historic preservation division shall assist the department of
accounting and general services to expedite and facilitate the application and
approval, as appropriate, for any necessary exemptions from state or federal
historic preservation laws.
����
(c)
�
The department of accounting and general services and department of
public safety may implement additional security improvements while the security
improvements mandated by this Act are being planned and developed.
����
(d)
�
No later than twenty days prior to the convening of the 2026 and 2027
regular sessions, the department of accounting and general services shall
provide annual reports to the legislature on the status of its efforts to
effectuate the purposes of this Act.
����
SECTION 3.
�
No later than October 31, 2025, the
department of accounting and general services shall remove all parking meters
from the state capitol parking facility.
�
The affected parking stalls shall be allocated among the governor,
lieutenant governor, senate, house of representatives, and legislative
reference bureau on a pro rata basis and made available to state employees
whose place of employment is the state capitol and who meet the qualifications
of their respective employer's parking policies.
�
To offset the loss of metered parking stalls
in the state capitol, the department of accounting and general services may
establish and maintain additional public metered parking stalls available in
the Kinau Hale parking lot and the state parking garage located at 301 South
Vineyard Street.
����
SECTION
4.
�
There is appropriated out of the
general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $
��������
or so much thereof as may be necessary
for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be
necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the department of accounting and
general services to plan and implement security improvements, including the
planning, design, and installation of vehicular barriers, at the state capitol
pursuant to section 2 of this Act.
����
The sums
appropriated shall be expended by the department
of accounting and general services for the purposes of this Act.
����
SECTION
5.
�
There is appropriated out of the
general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $
��������
or so much thereof as may be necessary
for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be
necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the department of public safety to
purchase or lease security screening equipment as may be necessary and contract
the services of private screening personnel at the state capitol to effectuate
the purposes of section 2 of this Act.
����
The sums
appropriated shall be expended by the department
of public safety for the purposes of this Act.
����
SECTION 6.
�
This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.
INTRODUCED BY:
_____________________________
Report Title:
State
Capitol; DAGS; DPS; Security; Appropriation
Description:
Requires
DAGS and DPS, in consultation with the legislature and other entities, to plan
and implement security improvements at the state capitol.
�
Requires DAGS to remove all parking meters
from the capitol parking facility and reallocate parking in the capitol
district.
�
Appropriates funds.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.