STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1250-12

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2012

RE:   S.B. No. 2866

      S.D. 1

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Public Safety & Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2866, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO COMPREHENSIVE OFFENDER REENTRY SYSTEM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to ensure public safety and reduce recidivism of incarcerated individuals by preparing these individuals for reentry into the community through programs and services that reflect best practices and evidenced-based results and provide these individuals with greater opportunities to be rehabilitated.  Specifically, this measure, among other things:

     (1)  Creates the Offender Reentry Office to oversee the Comprehensive Offender Reentry System and restore the purpose of the intake service centers to screen, evaluate, and classify the admission of persons to community correctional centers; and

     (2)  Reconstitutes the Reentry Commission, expands its duties, and extends its repeal date.

The Department of Public Safety, American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii, Community Alliance on Prisons, and Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition testified in support of this measure.

     While your Committee has concerns that the creation of an Offender Reentry Office within the Department of Public Safety to oversee a Comprehensive Offender Reentry System will have fiscal implications for the Department, your Committee notes that, according to the Department, the creation of this office and program can be accomplished under the current fiscal constraints facing the Department.  As such, your Committee finds that this matter deserves further consideration and the fiscal implications of this measure can be discussed further as it proceeds to the Committee on Finance.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion; and

     (2)  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 is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2866, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2866, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

HENRY J.C. AQUINO, Chair