STAND. COM. REP. NO.  401

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

RE:   H.B. No. 413

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.B. No. 413 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to help treat and reintegrate nonviolent offenders with drug-related convictions into society.

     This bill establishes the Residential Drug Abuse Program (Program) based on the community transitional phase of the federal residential drug abuse program.  Under this Program, offenders completing the in-facility phase of a residential drug abuse program can qualify for a voluntary, six-month, in-community program.  Those successfully completing the program will have their minimum sentence reduced by up to one year.

     This bill also expands the number of transition beds in module 19 at the Oahu Community Correctional Center.

     The American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii, the Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition, the Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii, the Community Alliance on Prisons, and several concerned individuals submitted testimony in support of 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 that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 413 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,

____________________________

FAYE HANOHANO, Chair