STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2768

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2082

       S.D. 2

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2082, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to:

     (1)  Require the Department of Public Safety to develop a plan by January 1, 2009, to return as many of the female prisoners who are residents of Hawaii and incarcerated on the mainland as possible to Hawaii by July 1, 2009; and

     (2)  Appropriate funds for this purpose.

     The Maui Economic Opportunity's BEST Reintegration Program, Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii, Hawaii Youth Services Network, Community Alliance on Prisons, and two individuals submitted testimony in support of this measure.  The Department of Public Safety submitted comments.

     Approximately one hundred seventy‑five female prisoners, who are residents of Hawaii, are incarcerated in mainland prisons.  Many of these female prisoners are parents.  Studies indicate that the risks to which children of incarcerated parents are exposed are even greater when geographical separation limits or precludes the children's regular visitation with their incarcerated parents.  Your Committee finds that the expiration of the current contract for incarcerating female prisoners on the mainland in October 2008, provides an opportunity to develop a plan for housing and rehabilitating female prisoners here in Hawaii.  This measure requires the Department of Public Safety to develop a plan by January 1, 2009, to return as many of these female prisoners as possible by July 1, 2009.

     Upon further consideration, your Committee has amended this measure by making technical nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2082, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2082, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair