Report Title:

Corrections;

Description:

Requires the auditor to conduct a financial and management audit of each commissary located in a Hawaii correctional facility, as well as commissaries located at out-of-state contracted correctional facilities where Hawaii inmates are confined.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2007
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to corrections.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that commissaries at state correctional facilities provide an opportunity for inmates to purchase goods for personal use, such as sundries, hygiene products, food, and other items.  Because the costs of items at commissaries that are located in jails and prisons are higher than retail prices, the legislature is concerned that mark ups on commissary items are excessive.

The purpose of this Act is to require the auditor to conduct a financial and management audit of the operations of the department of public safety's commissaries, as well as the commissary operations of out-of-state contracted correctional facilities where Hawaii inmates are confined.

     SECTION 2.  The office of the auditor shall conduct a financial and management audit of the department of public safety's commissary operations, as well as the operations of commissaries in out-of-state contracted correctional facilities where Hawaii inmates are confined that shall include but not be limited to determining:

     (1)  The total annual revenues generated from the sales of commissary items during the prior fiscal year;

     (2)  The total annual expenditures incurred for the operation and maintenance of each commissary during the prior fiscal year;

     (3)  The criteria used to select the type of items that are stocked and made available at commissaries; and

     (4)  The method used to determine the price of items sold to inmates at commissaries.

     SECTION 3.  The office of the auditor shall submit a report of its findings and any recommendations of the financial and management audit, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session 2009.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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