STAND. COM. REP. NO.  673

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   H.B. No. 624

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Public Safety & Military Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 624 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PAROLE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to enable the Hawaii Paroling Authority (Authority) to achieve its mission of providing meaningful opportunities for offenders to reintegrate into society and demonstrate that they have the potential to function as law-abiding citizens by granting the Authority the ability to parole committed persons to a county in the state where the committed person has the greatest family or community support; opportunities for employment; and access to job training, education, treatment, and other social services.

     The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Community Alliance on Prisons, and a concerned individual supported this bill.  The Authority supported the intent of this measure.  Maui Economic Opportunity, Inc., submitted comments.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

(1)  Requiring a committed person to provide a written request to the Department of Public Safety (DPS) asking to be transferred to a county other than a county that has a population that exceeds 800,000;

(2)  Providing that the Authority will determine if the county requested by the committed person does offer the greatest overall level of community and family support, as well as opportunity for and access to employment, job training, education, and other services;

(3)  Clarifying that DPS has the discretion to relocate a committed person to ensure the sequential phasing process of programs for the person is not interrupted;

(4)  Requiring that the committed person bear all expenses incurred from the transfer to a different county, including travel, lodging, and meals; and

(5)  Making technical, nonsubstantive changes for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety & Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 624, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 624, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

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

____________________________

CINDY EVANS, Chair