STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3237

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 2226

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 2

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 2226, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AN AUTOMATED VICTIM NOTIFICATION SYSTEM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to statutorily establish:

(1)  An automated victim information and notification system to notify victims or members of the community regarding certain status updates of offenders; and

(2)  The automated victim information and notification special fund to be used for the development and operating expenses of the system.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Public Safety; Department of the Prosecuting Attorney, City and County of Honolulu; Crime Victim Compensation Commission; and MADD Hawaii.

     Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1)  Clarifying that the offender information contained within the automated victim information and notification system shall be updated on a regular basis sufficient to timely notify a victim or member of the community of an offender's change in status;

(2)  Clarifying that any item purchased by both an in-state and out-of-state inmate from a correctional facility commissary shall be subject to a four per cent surcharge on the item's price for deposit into the automated victim information and notification system special fund;

(3)  Clarifying that all revenue from telephone services for inmates shall be deposited into the automated victim information and notification system special fund;

(4)  Providing that representatives from the private entities specified in this measure shall be requested to serve on the governance committee;

(5)  Providing that the members of the governance committee shall elect a chairperson from the members of the committee;

(6)  Clarifying that the members of the governance committee shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for necessary expenses; and

(7)  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 H.B. No. 2226, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2226, H.D. 2, S.D. 2.

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

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair