STAND. COM. REP. NO. 750

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: H.B. No. 629

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. 629, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MEDICAL RELEASE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to create a medical release program within the Department of Public Safety for certain ill, disabled, and geriatric inmates who pose a low risk to public safety.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Department of Public Safety, Department of Human Services, Hawaii Paroling Authority, Community Alliance on Prisons, American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii, O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, and two individuals testified in support of this measure. Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu testified in opposition.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting language that granted a presumption of eligibility for the reception of medical assistance to inmates who have been granted a medical release; and

(2) Changing its effective date to January 28, 2081, to facilitate further discussion.

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. 629, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 629, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

CHRIS LEE, Chair