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. 2945 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Department of Public Safety for the construction of an additional women's correctional center and facility.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from A Woman's Voice International, and the Community Alliance on Prisons. Two individuals also submitted testimony in support of this measure. The Department of Public Safety testified that it is premature to seek additional funds to construct an additional women's correctional center and facility.

Your Committee finds that the existing Women's Community Correctional Center is inadequate to accommodate all of Hawaii's female inmates. This measure would appropriate funds for the construction of an additional women's correctional center and facility in order to meet the needs of the current and projected number of female inmates.

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. 2945 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.