STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1257-12

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2012

RE:   S.B. No. 3016

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 2

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 3016, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC SAFETY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to assist incarcerated individuals with reintegration into society and work to reduce recidivism among incarcerated individuals, particularly those of Native Hawaiian ancestry, as well as benefit the community without jeopardizing public safety by:

     (1)  Directing the Department of Public Safety, in cooperation with ‘Ohana Ho‘opakele and other restorative justice groups to:

          (A)  Plan for the creation of a pu‘uhonua, or culturally sensitive wellness center employing native Hawaiian cultural practices, to serve as an intervention program for at-risk populations to restore the overall well-being of individuals, families, and the native Hawaiian community; and

          (B)  Determine an appropriate site for the pu‘uhonua, giving preferential consideration to the site of the former Kulani Correctional Facility on the island of Hawaii;

     (2)  Requiring the Department of Public Safety to submit a report to the Legislature on its plan, findings, and recommendations, including the factors used in determining site selection for the wellness center, and any budget requests, no later than 20 days prior to the convening of the 2013 Regular Session; and

     (3)  Creating within the Department of Public Safety a work release pilot program for low-risk incarcerated individuals to work on community projects, identified by the Department of Public Safety in collaboration with the Department of Land and Natural Resources.  

The American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii, Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs, Community Alliance on Prisons, Ohana Ho‘opakele, Malu ‘Aina, Blueprint for Change, Hawaii Prison News, and many concerned individuals supported the measure.  The Office of Hawaiian Affairs supported the measure with amendments.  The Department of Public Safety and Department of Land and Natural Resources offered comments on the measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by removing a directive to the Public Lands Development Corporation to provide assistance in determining an appropriate site for the pu‘uhonua.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3016, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3016, S.D. 2, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

FAYE HANOHANO, Chair