Restricts the department of public safety from canceling pre-approved and pre-scheduled family visits with inmates. (HB2595 HD1)

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that families are a resource to offenders during their incarceration. The support of family members can also play a key role in an offender's rehabilitation, transition, and successful re-entry from prison or jail to the community. By bringing together an offender and an offender's family through positive, consistent, and mutually desirable contact, the correctional system will be improving public safety and strengthening communities.

The purpose of this Act is to ensure the right of family members to visit inmates.

SECTION 2. Chapter 353, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§353- Visits from family members. (a) Family members shall be allowed to visit an inmate at any state correctional facility during official visiting hours.

(b) A visit from a family member shall be pre-approved and pre-scheduled. Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, no visit shall be canceled due to staff absenteeism or any other non-emergency situation.

(c) The department shall develop internal policies and procedures consistent with this section.

(d) For the purposes of this section, "family members" means persons who are related to each other by blood, marriage, adoption, or legal guardianship."

SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2020.