CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 59

Honolulu, Hawaii

                 , 2013

RE:    S.B. No. 1176

       S.D. 1

       H.D. 2

       C.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Madam and Sir:

     Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 1176, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII PAROLING AUTHORITY,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

     The purpose of this measure is to improve the parole system in Hawaii by:

     (1)  Allowing certain individuals who serve on the panel that nominates Hawaii Paroling Authority members to select designees to represent them on the panel;

     (2)  Requiring the release of parole hearing decisions within thirty days after the hearing; and

     (3)  Establishing how quorum is determined for action on matters before the Hawaii Paroling Authority.

     Your Committee on Conference finds that the Hawaii Paroling Authority nomination panel includes the Chief Justice of the Hawaii Supreme Court, Director of Public Safety, President of the Bar Association of Hawaii, a representative designated by the head of the Interfaith Alliance Hawaii, a member of the public, and President of the Hawaii Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers.  The panel is responsible for vetting the list of applicants, conducting interviews, and submitting not less than three names per vacancy for the Governor's consideration.  Your Committee on Conference further finds that this work averages three to five full days of meetings – a schedule that is often impractical for individuals in high level positions to regularly attend and still complete their existing work responsibilities.  This measure permits the Chief Justice, Director of Public Safety, and Presidents of the Hawaii State Bar Association and Hawaii Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers to appoint designees to represent their organizations at these meetings to ensure the timely nomination of new members.

     Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Inserting language stating that if it is determined immediately preceding or during the course of a hearing that a sitting panel member must be recused due to a conflict of interest or illness, the panel may proceed with two members for quorum; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1176, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1176, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ HENRY J.C. AQUINO, Co-Chair	____________________________ WILL ESPERO, Chair
____________________________ KARL RHOADS, Co-Chair