STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2442

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2919

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2919 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII STATE HOSPITAL,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to improve security at the Hawaii state hospital.

     Specifically, this measure clarifies that the duties of the Department of Public Safety include providing security at the State's secure psychiatric rehabilitation facility located in Kaneohe, with the advice of the Director of Health.  This measure also requires the Director of Health, in collaboration with the Director of Public Safety, to report to the Legislature on appropriate short- and long-range security measures and plans for the State's secure psychiatric rehabilitation facility located in Kaneohe.

     Your Committee finds that patients at the Hawaii state hospital include forensic patients institutionalized by the courts whose escapes pose serious threats to the safety and well-being of residents of the State.  Your Committee finds that this measure will help to address the security problems at the Hawaii state hospital.

     Upon further consideration, your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Clarifying that the measure addresses security issues at the Hawaii state hospital;

     (2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

     (3)  Making technical nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

     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. 2919, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2919, S.D. 1.

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

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DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair