STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3408

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 516

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Labor, to which was referred H.B. No. 516, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SEXUAL OFFENDERS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to impose lifetime parole upon release from prison of a repeat sexual offender convicted on two prior and separate occasions of an offense of sexual assault in the first, second, or third degrees, or continuous sexual assault of a minor under the age of fourteen years.

     This measure further provides that a repeat sexual offender placed on lifetime parole shall have the right to initiate a special proceeding to challenge the applicability of lifetime parole.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Paroling Authority.  Testimony in opposition was received from the Public Defender.

     Your Committee finds that the seriousness of the sexual offenses to which this measure applies, and the prevalence of sexual offenders who have been convicted multiple times, warrant the imposition of lifetime parole for deterrence and protection of the public.

     Your Committee notes the testimony of the Hawaii Paroling Authority that it needs more resources to hire additional parole officers and for added personnel, office space, and equipment under this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to continue the discussions on this matter.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Labor that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 516, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 516, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary and Labor,

____________________________

BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair