STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2656
Honolulu, Hawaii
RE: S.B. No. 2776
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 S.B. No. 2776, S.D. 1, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC SAFETY,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose and intent of this measure is to enhance public safety by addressing areas needing improvement in the State's criminal justice system.
Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Public Safety; Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition; The Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii; Community Alliance on Prisons; and two individuals.
Your Committee finds that a large number of inmates are nonviolent drug offenders. Many of these inmates are denied parole due to a lack of programming and support for drug offenders. This, in turn, increases their incarceration period and related prison expenses for the State. Your Committee further finds that measures provided in this measure, including an expedited pretrial risk assessment, expanding membership of the Hawaii Paroling Authority, and requiring the use of validated risk assessments to determine which programs will provide offenders with the maximum benefit, will assist in efficiently using funds to reduce recidivism and crime in Hawaii.
Your Committee has amended this measure by 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. 2776, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2776, S.D. 2.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,
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____________________________ DAVID Y. IGE, Chair |
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