Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2819, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to convert the two part-time members of the Hawaii Paroling Authority to full-time members.

In addition, the measure: appropriates funds for the additional compensation, office equipment, and related expenses; requires the position of Chairperson to rotate among the members every two years; and prohibits the members from engaging in outside employment.

Your Committee notes that the Hawaii Paroling Authority was created in 1976 and that its composition of one full-time chair and two part-time members was adequate for the workload at that time. However the increasing prison population in recent years and the effects of mandatory sentences have caused the Paroling Authority's caseload to increase exponentially. Your Committee finds that the role of the Paroling Authority is vital to our criminal justice system and to the public's safety. Your Committee further finds that the Paroling Authority's present workload justifies three full-time members.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the amount specified to an unspecified amount to facilitate further discussion.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2819, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2819, S.D. 2.