THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2679
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to firearms.

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has declared that firearm violence is a serious public health problem. For children and young adults between one and nineteen years of age, firearm injuries were the leading cause of death in 2020 and 2021. The legislature further finds that safely storing firearms when not in use is vitally important and that further education and reminders are needed.

Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to require the department of education to create and distribute to the parents and guardians of students a firearms access prevention and secure storage model notice.

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

"§302A- Child firearms access prevention and secure storage notice. (a) By September 1, 2024, the department shall develop a firearms access prevention and secure storage model notice which shall include information describing state law relating to the secure storage of firearms, including but not limited to sections 134-9.3 and 134-10.5 and statewide resources and information related to child firearm access prevention, secure storage of firearms, and firearm violence prevention. The model notice shall be produced in English, Olelo Hawaii, and other common languages spoken by department students. The department shall annually update the model notice and shall publish it on its website.

(b) Beginning September 1, 2024, all public schools shall provide a firearms access prevention and secure storage notice for all students at the beginning of the first semester or quarter of the regular school year; provided that if a student enrolls after the beginning of the school year, the notice shall be provided within one week of enrollment. The notice shall be in a written format such as a brochure, flyer, handbill, leaflet, letter, or pamphlet, and be provided directly to the parent or guardian of the student in person, by mail to the parent's or guardian's last known mailing address, by email to the parent's or guardian's email address, or by any other reasonable methods authorized by the department. One notice may be provided for multiple students living in the same household.

(c) Beginning September 1, 2024, any complex areas and public schools that maintain websites or social media presences shall publish or post the firearms access prevention and secure storage notice on those websites and social media platforms.

(d) The department, any complex areas, and public schools shall not be civilly liable for the death of or injury to persons or property damage related to providing, or failing to provide, the notice required under this section."

SECTION 3. Section 302A-856, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"[[]§302A-856[]] Youth suicide awareness and prevention protocol. (a) The department, in collaboration with the department of health, shall develop a mandatory youth suicide awareness and prevention training program and a model risk referral protocol for complex areas and charter schools based on the department of health's existing suicide awareness and prevention curriculum and materials, which shall be provided to teachers, teacher assistants, administrators, and counselors.

(b) The youth suicide awareness and prevention training program shall include information about limiting access to firearms and include the firearms access prevention and secure storage notice prepared by the department pursuant to section 302A- .

[~~(b)~~] (c) By September 15 of each year, each complex area shall report to the department on prior school year training prevention activities completed as described by this section.

[~~(c)~~] (d) Neither the department nor any of its agencies, boards, members, personnel, designees, agents, or volunteers shall be liable in civil damages to any party for any act or omission of an act relating to the provision of, participation in, or implementation of the components of the training program or protocol required by this section unless that act or omission amounts to gross negligence, wilful and wanton conduct, or intentional wrongdoing.

[~~(d)~~] (e) The department may adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 to include and require contracted workers to participate in and comply with the suicide awareness and prevention training program and risk referral protocol requirements under this section and section 302D-36."

SECTION 4 Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________