STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1672

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

RE:   S.B. No. 539

      S.D. 1

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 539, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CORRECTIONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to ensure that the reentry needs of persons committed to correctional facilities are being evaluated and met in an effective and appropriate manner by:

     (1)  Renaming the Intake Service Center Division of the Department of Public Safety to the Reentry Intake Services Division (Division); and

     (2)  Requiring the Division to work closely and collaborate with the Hawaii Paroling Authority, the Correction Program Services division, and the furlough programs in each county.

     The American Civil Liberties Union, Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii, Drug Policy Action Group, Community Alliance on Prisons, Na Koa Ikaika, and several concerned individuals supported this bill.  The Department of Public Safety opposed this measure.

     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 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. 539, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 539, S.D. 1, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair