STAND. COM. REP. NO.  34

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   H.B. No. 5

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. 5 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC SAFETY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to improve inmate reform and reconciliation from past offenses by appropriating funds and requiring the Department of Public Safety (DPS) to expand the Restorative Circles Pilot Program (Program) currently in place at the Waiawa Correctional Facility, to other correctional facilities statewide to allow inmates and victims a chance to repair harm caused by past offenses.

     DPS, Hawaii Paroling Authority, Community Alliance on Prisons, TJ Mahoney & Associates, and several individuals testified in support of this measure.

     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. 5 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

CINDY EVANS, Chair