Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 771, H.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure, as received, is to make interference with the reporting of an emergency a crime.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Domestic Violence Clearinghouse and Legal Hotline.

Upon consideration, your Committee amended this measure by replacing its contents with the contents of H.B. No. 177, S.D. 1, to allow the Governor to contract with the Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii (RCUH) for the development of facilities for a rehabilitation center capable of housing both minimum and medium security offenders, for the purpose of research into rehabilitation.

At the hearing held on H.B. No. 177, your Committee received testimony in support from the Department of Public Safety, RCUH, Community Corrections Corporation, and United Public Workers.

Your Committee believes this measure is a solid first step towards a planned, organized, and effective private enterprise effort in concert with the State to develop a rehabilitation facility for inmates.

Your Committee finds that the proposal to use the RCUH is a forward thinking step to address the multitude of problems related to the State's prison system. Your Committee believes that the State should avail itself of more expertise from local research institutions in planning projects such as this. The RCUH is very capable of administering this project, particularly the rehabilitation programs.

Your Committee has further amended this measure by:

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 771, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 771, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.