STAND. COM. REP. NO. 637

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 560

       S.D. 2

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 560, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to establish a task force, within the Office of Hawaiian ffairs, to study the disparate treatment of native Hawaiians and other ethnic groups in the State's criminal justice system.

     Your Committee received two written comments on this measure.  The written comments may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

     Your Committee finds that all citizens are entitled to a fair and just judicial system.  Disparities in the criminal justice system foster mistrust by the public and impede the promotion of public safety.  A study conducted by the task force under this bill would be a first step toward reducing disparities in the system because it will assist in determining where disparities occur and identifying the causes.  Appropriate intervention and action can be taken thereafter to reduce the disparities.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical nonsubstantive changes for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 560, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 560, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair