STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1802

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   S.C.R. No. 126

      S.D. 1

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Public Safety, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 126, S.D. 1, entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE JUDICIARY TO CONVENE A TASK FORCE TO EXAMINE AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING CRIMINAL PRETRIAL PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES TO MAXIMIZE PUBLIC SAFETY, MAXIMIZE COURT APPEARANCES, AND MAXIMIZE PRETRIAL RELEASE OF THE ACCUSED AND PRESUMED INNOCENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to improve the State's criminal pretrial justice system by:

     (1)  Requesting the Judiciary to convene a Criminal Pretrial Task Force to examine and make recommendations regarding criminal pretrial practices and procedures to maximize public safety, court appearances, and pretrial release; and

     (2) Requesting the Criminal Pretrial Task Force, with the assistance of the Legislative Reference Bureau, to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2019.

The Judiciary, American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii, Community Alliance on Prisons, Hoomana Pono, LLC, and a concerned individual supported this measure.  The Department of Public Safety, Crime Victim Compensation Commission, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and Legislative Reference Bureau offered comments.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by removing the Legislative Reference Bureau from the Criminal Pretrial Task Force Membership.

     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 S.C.R. No. 126, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Judiciary in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 126, S.D. 1, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

GREGG TAKAYAMA, Chair