STAND. COM. REP. NO.  283-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

RE:   H.B. No. 2237

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Public Safety, to which was referred H.B. No. 2237 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PRISON LITIGATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to allow correctional facilities the time and opportunity to address complaints internally before allowing the initiation of a civil lawsuit.  Specifically, this measure requires prisoners to exhaust administrative remedies before bringing a civil court action.

The Department of the Attorney General and the Department of Public Safety supported this measure.  The Community Alliance on Prisons and two concerned individuals opposed this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

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

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

     Your Committee notes that the Department of Public Safety is currently working to strengthen its ability to track inmate's grievances, especially at out-of-state correctional facilities that have prisoners from Hawaii.  As such, your Committee finds that this measure warrants further discussion as it advances through the legislative process.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2237, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2237, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety,

____________________________

HENRY J.C. AQUINO, Chair