STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1943

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   H.C.R. No. 263

      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 Committees on Public Safety & Military Affairs and Water, Land, Ocean Resources & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 263 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A TASK FORCE TO STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF A NATIVE HAWAIIAN HEALING PROGRAM ON KAHO‘OLAWE,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to provide life skills with an emphasis on native Hawaiian cultural traditions for incarcerated persons, and a chance to become acquainted or reacquainted with the rich Hawaiian heritage by requesting that the Department of Public Safety convene a task force to study the feasibility of a reciprocal healing program (Program) for offenders on Kaho‘olawe, emphasizing native Hawaiian practices for native Hawaiian offenders.

     A concerned individual supported this concurrent resolution.  The Kaho‘olawe Island Reserve Commission submitted comments.

     Your Committees have amended this concurrent resolution by:

     (1)  Changing its title to, "REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY TO ESTABLISH A TASK FORCE TO STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF A NATIVE HAWAIIAN HEALING PROGRAM ON THE ISLAND OF KAHO‘OLAWE FOR NATIVE HAWAIIANS AND OTHER PERSONS INCARCERATED IN CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES";

(2)  Clarifying that the Program would not include a prison facility on the island of Kaho‘olawe;

(3)  Removing references to this Program as being a method for bringing home native Hawaiians who are incarcerated in mainland facilities;

(4)  Calling for the Program to be used as an opportunity for work-release, probation, or parole for native Hawaiians and any other persons incarcerated in correctional facilities;

(5)  Specifying that participants in the Program should have regular or instantaneous review immediately prior to and after participation in the Program such as what is done in Drug or Girls' Court;

(6)  Requesting a report on any financial impacts that may be incurred by the task force; and

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

     Your Committees note that concerns were raised that task force members may incur some financial impact in the performance of their duties, such as travel expenses.  However, the cooperation and assistance of the departments should minimize these impacts.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Public Safety & Military Affairs and Water, Land, Ocean Resources & Hawaiian Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 263, as amended herein, and recommend its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 263, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Public Safety & Military Affairs and Water, Land, Ocean Resources & Hawaiian Affairs,

___________________________ KEN ITO, Chair

___________________________ SHARON E. HAR, Acting Chair and Vice Chair