STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1142-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   S.B. No. 2344

      S.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 Public Safety & Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2344, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to ensure the successful reentry of inmates back into the community upon their release from prison by requiring:

(1)  The Department of Public Safety (DPS) to establish performance indicators to ensure that DPS is in compliance with the Community Safety Act of 2007; and

(2)  Quarterly reports to the Legislature, using key performance indicators, such as inmate drug test failure rates, educational goals achieved, reentry plans, post-incarceration employment, victim restitution paid, and recidivism rates.

     The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii, Community Alliance on Prisons, and several concerned individuals supported this bill.  The Department of Public Safety opposed 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 S.B. No. 2344, S.D. 1, 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