STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1280-14

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

 

RE:   H.C.R. No. 134

      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.C.R. No. 134 entitled:

 

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ENCOURAGING THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY TO ENTER INTO A PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT FOR THE PLANNING, DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, TURNKEY, AND FINANCING OF EXPANDED, RENOVATED, OR NEW CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES STATEWIDE,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to address the current correctional needs of the State by encouraging the Department of Public Safety to enter into a public-private partnership agreement for the planning, design, construction, turnkey, and financing of expanded, renovated, or new correctional facilities statewide.   

 

     The Department of Public Safety, Department of the Attorney General, Department of Budget and Finance, Department of Land and Natural Resources, and the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu supported this measure.  Community Alliance on Prisons, Malu Aina, Ohana Hoopakele, and several concerned individuals opposed this measure.  The Department of Accounting and General Services and Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO offered comments on this measure.  

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Requesting the provision of opportunity for public and community input regarding the correctional facilities projects proposed and their locations; and

         

     (2)  Expressing the Legislature's support of the Department of Public Safety's intention that the correctional facilities proposed be operated and managed by the State, and not private companies.

 

     Your Committee believes that this measure warrants further discussion as it advances through the legislative process.  Your Committee also recognizes that the enactment of legislation may be necessary to advance the Department of Public Safety's private-partnership agreement regarding correctional facilities.  Moreover, your Committee notes that while this measure offers one strategy for addressing the State's correctional concerns, the State should explore and develop additional strategies to address correctional capacity and service needs.  This includes exploring safe and cost-efficient options to reduce the inmate population.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 134, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 134, H.D. 1.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

HENRY J.C. AQUINO, Chair