KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

Back to Hawaii

HB599 • 2026

RELATING TO SCHOOL SAFETY.

RELATING TO SCHOOL SAFETY.

Education
Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
GARCIA, SHIMIZU, WARD, Muraoka
Last action
2025-12-08
Official status
Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill does not specify training requirements for handling mass shootings or conflict de-escalation in the provided summary.

School Safety Act

This bill requires the Department of Education to assign school resource officers to public schools and charter schools, encourages hiring qualified retirees from local police departments, and provides funding for these positions.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires the Department of Education to place school resource officers or guards in all department public schools and charter schools during school hours.
  • Encourages the hiring of retired police officers who are still qualified for this work.
  • Provides funding for the salaries of these new school resource officers.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Students in public schools and charter schools
  • School staff who will interact with these officers
  • Local police departments whose retirees may be hired

Terms To Know

school resource officer
A police officer assigned to a school to help keep students safe.
qualified retiree
An older person who has retired but still meets the requirements for their job.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how many officers will be assigned to each school.
  • It is unclear if all local police departments have qualified retirees available for hiring.
  • The exact amount of funding provided by the state is not detailed in this summary.

Bill History

  1. 2025-12-08 D

    Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.

  2. 2025-01-21 H

    Referred to EDN, JHA, FIN, referral sheet 2

  3. 2025-01-21 H

    Introduced and Pass First Reading.

  4. 2025-01-17 H

    Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO SCHOOL SAFETY.
Education; School Safety; Resource Officers ($)
Requires the Department of Education to assign school resource officers to department public schools and charter schools. Encourages the employment of qualified retirees from the local police departments and department of law enforcement. Appropriates funds for these positions.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HB599

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

599

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to school safety
.

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

����
SECTION 1.
�
Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

����
"
�302A-
�
School
safety; school resource officers; guards.
�
(a)
�
The department shall assign school resource
officers or guards registered pursuant to chapter 463 to serve at each department
school during hours when students are expected to be on the school campus.
�
The officers or guards shall be trained for
mass-shooting response and de-escalation.
�

In determining the number of officers or guards that shall be assigned
to each department school, the department shall consider:

����
(1)
�
The size of the
school campus;

����
(2)
�
The number of
students in the school; and

����
(3)
�
Other factors
relevant to student safety.

����
(b)
�
The department shall seek federal grants to
the extent necessary for the costs relating to the hiring of school resource
officers and registered guards.

����
(c)
�
The department shall work with local law
enforcement during the hiring process to prioritize employing retirees from the
police department and department of law enforcement and other qualified
individuals.
"

����
SECTION 2.
�
Chapter
302D, Hawaii
Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately
designated and to read as follows:

����
"
302D-

�
School safety; school resource officers;
guards.
�
(a)
�

The department shall assign school resource officers or guards
registered pursuant to chapter 463 to serve at each charter school during hours
when students are expected to be on the school campus.
�
The officers or guards shall be trained for
mass-shooting response and de-escalation.
�

In determining the number of officers or guards that shall be assigned
to each charter school, the department shall consider:

����
(1)
�
The size of the
school campus;

����
(2)
�
The number of
students in the school; and

����
(3)
�
Other factors
relevant to student safety.

����
(b)
�
The department shall seek federal grants to
the extent necessary for the costs relating to the hiring of school resource
officers and registered guards.

����
(c)
�
The department shall work with local law
enforcement during the hiring process to prioritize employing retirees from the
police department and department of law enforcement and other qualified
individuals.
"

SECTION 3.
�
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 provision of
school resource officers and guards at department public school and charter
school.

����
The sum appropriated shall be
expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.

����
SECTION 4.
�
New statutory material is underscored.

����
SECTION 5.
�
This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Education;
School Safety; Resource Officers

Description:

Requires
the Department of Education to assign school resource officers to department
public schools and charter schools.
�

Encourages the employment of qualified retirees from the local police
departments and department of law enforcement.
�

Appropriates funds for these positions.

The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.