Requires searching of visitors and deliveries for contraband; appropriates funds for grievance officer position to ensure inmate grievances are responded to in a timely manner.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. Chapter 353, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§353- Contraband. The department shall adopt rules to enforce periodic searches of inmate living areas to deter and detect the flow of contraband."

SECTION 2. Section 353-30, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§353-30 Others by permission. Only official visitors shall be allowed to visit any state correctional facility or to have any oral or written communication with a committed person, unless with the written permission of the administrator of the correctional facility or the director. No visitor shall deliver to or receive from any committed person any letter or message except with permission granted by the administrator of a state correctional facility pursuant to rules adopted by the director or facility administrator. All visitors shall be pat-searched for contraband and subject to metal detector screening prior to accessing any secured area. All deliveries to any state correctional facility shall be examined for contraband. Unauthorized communications, passing of documents, or visiting shall be a class C felony."

SECTION 3. In Report No. 00-05, entitled "Management and Financial Audit of the Department of Public Safety", the auditor recommended that the director of public safety ensure compliance with the federal Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act and restore inmate rights in the department's grievance procedures. The auditor's recommendations specifically included the immediate filling of the department's grievance officer position to ensure that all inmate grievances are responded to in a timely manner.

It is the purpose of this section and section 4 to appropriate funds for the grievance officer position in the department of public safety to promote inmates rights in departmental grievance procedures and to fulfill the auditor's recommendation directing compliance with the federal Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act.

SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $1, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2001-2002, to fund the position of grievance officer in the department of public safety to ensure that inmates' grievances are responded to in a timely manner.

SECTION 5. The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of public safety for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 6. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 7. This Act shall take effect upon its approval; provided that section 4 shall take effect on July 1, 2001.