Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Public Safety & Military Affairs and Water, Land, & Ocean Resources, to which was referred H.B. No. 2833 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to increase the number of minimum custody housing for inmates, encourage a programs approach to inmate case management, and develop more work opportunities for inmates to benefit the community.

Specifically, this bill:

The Coalition for a Drug-Free Hawaii testified in support of the bill. The Department of Public Safety supported the intent of the measure. The Hawaii Community Development Authority opposed sections 2 and 3 of the bill, which authorizes the Department of Public Safety to seek opportunities for the construction of minimum security housing in Kalaeloa. The Community Alliance on Prisons offered comments.

Your Committees find that additional minimum security housing for male and female inmates would allow more inmates to participate in reintegration programs prior to their release into the community. However, there is a long history of community opposition toward the establishment of a correctional facility in Kalaeloa.

Your Committees further note that workline programs, substance abuse treatment, and other vocational and educational programs are shown to be effective in reintegration, but only when inmates make use of them. This bill strengthens the Department's program participation policy, thereby increasing the chances of successful transition of inmates back into the community.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Public Safety & Military Affairs and Water, Land, & Ocean Resources that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2833, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2833, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.