STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1466-16

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2016

RE:   S.B. No. 2630

      S.D. 1

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 2630, S.D. 1, 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 address operations of the State's correctional system by:

(1)  Repealing statutory restrictions that prohibit Hawaii Correctional Industries, the state inmate labor program, from participating in open-market sales of goods and services and amending operational provisions to permit Hawaii Correctional Industries to conduct free-market operations and enterprises; and

(2)  Requiring and funding a feasibility study by the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism on the establishment of an employment and entrepreneurial training and mentoring program to facilitate successful inmate reentry and reduce recidivism through workforce preparedness.

The Department of Public Safety, United Public Workers, and numerous concerned individuals supported this measure.  The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism and Community Alliance on Prisons submitted comments.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2630, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair