STAND. COM. REP. NO. 46

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 566

       S.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 566 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

     (1)  Establish twelve-month pilot visitation programs at the Oahu Community Correctional Center and the Halawa Correctional Facility to promote inmate visitation at the facilities; and

     (2)  Appropriate funds to the Department of Public Safety for the creation of the pilot programs.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Community Alliance on Prisons and three individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Public Safety.

     Your Committee finds that there has been a pattern of visitation within the Hawaii correctional system that has been problematic.  Weekend family visits are often canceled due to an insufficient number of Department of Public Safety personnel necessary to oversee and monitor visitation.  These last minute cancellations are detrimental to the psyche and well-being of inmates, as strong family and community relationships increase the likelihood of inmate success after release.  The establishment of twelve-month pilot visitation programs at the Oahu Community Correctional Center and the Halawa Correctional Facility will address the ongoing problem of canceled visitations and ensure continued family and community contact.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Inserting language permitting, rather than requiring, the hiring of part-time staff for weekend family visits;

     (2)  Inserting language permitting, rather than requiring, the Director of Public Safety to provide for weekday visits at certain times and the hiring of part-time staff for weekday family visits at the Oahu Community Correctional Center and the Halawa Correctional Facility; and

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

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 566, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 566, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs,

____________________________

WILL ESPERO, Chair