STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1171

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2019

 

RE:   H.B. No. 320

      H.D. 2

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 320, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO OFFENDER REENTRY,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to require the Department of Public Safety to:

 

     (1)  Issue certificates of completion to inmates who complete rehabilitation programs; and

 

     (2)  Establish a procedure for a potential employer of a former inmate to easily:

 

          (A)  Verify the authenticity of a certificate issued; and

 

          (B)  Obtain information about the rehabilitation program completed by the former inmate.

 

     The Department of Public Safety and O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i testified in support of this measure.  The Hawaii Paroling Authority testified in opposition to this measure.  The Community Alliance on Prisons provided comments.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by deleting language which required the Department of Public Safety to:

 

     (1)  Provide a copy of a certificate upon request to the person named on the certificate; and

 

     (2)  Establish a procedure for a potential employer of a former inmate to easily:

 

          (A)  Verify the authenticity of a certificate issued; and

 

          (B)  Obtain information about the rehabilitation program completed by the former inmate.

 

     Your Committee further amended the measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 320, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 320, H.D. 2.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

CHRIS LEE, Chair