Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 862 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to make an appropriation for the establishment of three full-time social worker IV positions.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Public Safety (Department).

Your Committee finds that this bill will allow the Department to better assess inmates as they arrive at the facilities in Hawaii County, Kauai, and Maui. The National Institute of Corrections recommended to the Department that these positions be established. It is believed that having professionals onsite to make these assessments will, among other benefits, greatly assist the Department in their ongoing efforts to better identify potentially suicidal inmates.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 862 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.