STAND. COM. REP. NO.  114

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

RE:   H.B. No. 255

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Public Safety, to which was referred H.B. No. 255 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to create a medical or compassionate release program under the jurisdiction of the Department of Public Safety for certain ill, disabled, and geriatric inmates who pose a low risk to public safety.

The Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, Community Alliance on Prisons, American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii, Hawaii Women's Coalition, and several concerned individuals supported the measure.  The Department of Public Safety supported the intent of this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Clarifying that the medical release program shall be a three-year pilot project;

     (2)  Adding definitions of "department" and "director";

     (3)  Clarifying that the cost of care will not be used as a consideration in the medical release of an inmate;

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

     (5)  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 that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 255, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 255, 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