Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2938, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the entity proposing to situate a halfway house, clean and sober home, or drug rehabilitation home in a community to provide written notice to the affected neighborhood boards and community associations, and the legislators that represent the district where the facility is to be located, for purposes of holding an required public informational meeting in the process of obtaining county permits.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Mililani Town Association and the Kuli`ou`ou/Kalani Iki Neighborhood Board #2. Testimony in opposition was received from Oxford House Inc., Hina Mauka, and the Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition. Comments were received from the Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting.

Your Committee finds that in an effort to keep abreast of activities in the community for the purpose of reducing criminal activity and illicit drug use, residents obtain information through their neighborhood security watches and communications systems. This measure is another avenue to keep the community informed of activities in the community. Further, keeping residents informed ensures that they have an opportunity to engage the entity proposing one of these homes in dialogue to better understand the scope of the facility and to clear up their concerns.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2938, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.