STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2256

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2919

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Health and Public Safety and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2919 entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to:

     (1)  Clarify the duties of the Department of Public Safety to include security at the Hawaii State Hospital; and

     (2)  Require the Director of Health, in collaboration with the Director of Public Safety, to report to the Legislature on appropriate security measures and short- and long-range plans for security of the increasing and aging forensic population at the hospital.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Government Employees Association, Kaneohe Neighborhood Board #30, and four individuals.  Testimony in opposition was received from the Department of Public Safety.  Written testimony presented to the Committees may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

     Your Committees find that the patients at the Hawaii State Hospital are considered to be in need of confinement, including forensic patients committed to institutionalization by the courts.  The recent escape on December 3, 2010 of a forensic patient who was committed to the hospital in 2002 after allegedly committing kidnapping and sexual assault on a child illustrates the current security deficit at the hospital.

     Your Committees further find that the Hawaii State Hospital has suffered budget cuts and reductions in security positions, leaving the hospital vulnerable to escapes and security risks.  Averaging six escapes a year and with numerous assaults upon staff, the high occupancy at the hospital, coupled with the budget cuts and security reductions, have compromised and jeopardized the safety of the workers and patients at the facility, as well as the community and surrounding neighborhood.

     Your Committees pass this measure in the interests of protecting the public health and safety.  Your Committees do not believe it unreasonable for the Department of Public Safety to be responsible for the security at the Hawaii State Hospital, which is state-owned and operated facility. 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Public Safety and Military Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2919 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Health and Public Safety and Military Affairs,

____________________________ WILL ESPERO, Chair

____________________________ DAVID Y. IGE, Chair