STAND

STAND. COM. REP. 504

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: H.B. No. 857

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 857 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to ensure public participation in the development of prisons.

This bill requires that:

(1) During the site selection process, the Governor must notify the public of each proposed site and accept public comments for at least 60 days following notification;

(2) The Governor must notify the public of any:

(a) Actions to expand the inmate capacity of an existing prison; or

(b) Capital improvement project at an existing prison with a cost greater than $500,000;

and accept public comments for at least 60 days following notification; and

(3) These public comment periods shall run concurrent with any review and public comment period for an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement.

The Community Alliance on Prisons and Government Efficiency Teams, Inc., testified in support of this bill. The Department of Accounting and General Services supported the intent of this measure, and the Lieutenant Governor's Office offered comments. The Department of Public Safety opposed this measure.

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. 857 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs,

		____________________________ KEN ITO, Chair