STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1559

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

RE:   H.C.R. No. 153

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Public Safety, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 153 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE LEGISLATIVE REFERENCE BUREAU TO STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF CONSTRUCTING A PRISON AT THE STATE QUARANTINE STATION AT HALAWA, OAHU,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to set the groundwork for implementing the return and reentry provisions of Act 8, First Special Session Laws of Hawaii 2007, and ease the overall correctional facilities overcrowding problem within the state by requesting that the Legislative Reference Bureau (LRB) study:

(1)  The feasibility of constructing correctional facilities at the animal quarantine station at Halawa, Oahu;

     (2)  Whether the State may consider the sale or lease of lands presently housing the Oahu Community Correctional Center; and

     (3)  Whether the proceeds from the sale or lease of these lands may be sufficient to finance the construction of a new prison facility.

     The Department of Agriculture (DOA) and LRB submitted comments.

     Your Committee recognizes that the proposed site is currently being used by DOA for its animal quarantine station to evaluate dogs and cats entering the state and that construction of a correctional facility there would require relocating DOA's active quarantine program.

     Your Committee notes DOA's concerns about the suggested use of the quarantine station and respectfully requests that your Committee on Legislative Management consider the possibility of amending the parameters of the feasibility study to include:

(1)  The costs of finding a new site and constructing a new facility for DOA's program; and

(2)  The effects on other programs currently run at the quarantine station including those run by the United States (U.S.) Department of Agriculture, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the U.S. Army.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 153 and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Legislative Management.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety,

____________________________

FAYE HANOHANO, Chair