STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1144-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   S.B. No. 2546

      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 Public Safety & Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2546, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO OFFENDER REENTRY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to assist adult offenders with their reintegration back into society and offer a full continuum of services that are accessible during and immediately after their incarceration by establishing a mandatory comprehensive offender reentry system under the supervision of the Department of Public Safety (PSD).

     The Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii, Community Alliance on Prisons, and Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition and a concerned individual supported this bill.  PSD supported the intent of this measure.  The Department of Human Services and Maui Economic Opportunity, Inc.'s Being Empowered and Safe Together Reintegration Program submitted comments.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

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

(2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive changes for clarity, consistency, and style.

     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. 2546, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2546, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, 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