STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1708-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   S.B. No. 2342

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 2342, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE AUDITOR,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to ensure the safety, health, and welfare of Hawaii inmates who have been transferred to private correctional facilities on the mainland.  Specifically, this bill requires the Legislative Auditor to conduct performance audits of the Saguaro Correctional Facility in Eloy, Arizona, and the Otter Creek Correctional Facility in Wheelwright, Kentucky, with each audit covering:

     (1)  Various treatments and services provided to Hawaii inmates;

     (2)  Facilitation of family and community connections; and

     (3)  The Department of Public Safety's (DPS) execution of its statutory duties, including monitoring of private prisons, enforcement of contract provisions, and public access to contracts and monitoring reports.

     The Hawaii Government Employees Association, Community Alliance on Prisons, American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii, Ohana Hoopakele, Drug Policy Action Group, and numerous individuals testified in support of this bill.  DPS testified in opposition to this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Limiting the scope of the audit to the Saguaro Correctional Facility in Eloy, Arizona;

     (2)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2020, to encourage further discussion; and

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2342, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2342, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair