STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1346

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2011

RE:   H.C.R. No. 126

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Public Safety & Military Affairs, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 126 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY TO DETERMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF ESTABLISHING AN EARNED-TIME PROGRAM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to request the Department of Public Safety (PSD) to determine the feasibility of establishing an early parole eligibility program based on earned-time credits for Hawaii inmates and Hawaii inmates housed in mainland facilities that would allow them a shortened prison stay if they complete educational, vocational, or rehabilitation programs that boost their chances of successful reentry into the community and labor market.

     The Community Alliance on Prisons supported this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Requesting PSD to focus the study on the feasibility and risks involved with early paroling based on earned-time credits of Hawaii's non-violent and low-level drug offenders;

     (2)  Amending the measure's title to read:  "REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY TO DETERMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF ESTABLISHING AN EARNED-TIME PROGRAM FOR HAWAII'S NON-VIOLENT AND LOW-LEVEL DRUG OFFENDERS"; and

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

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety & Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 126, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 126, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety & Military Affairs,

____________________________

for HENRY J.C. AQUINO, Chair