STAND. COM. REP. NO. 589-20

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2020

RE: H.B. No. 2362

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 2362, 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 appropriate funds for the purchase of the Honolulu Federal Detention Center.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Public Safety, a councilmember of the Honolulu City Council, Aiea Community Association, Ali‘i Pauahi Hawaiian Civic Club, and one individual. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Community Alliance on Prisons, and three individuals.

Your Committee finds that the State has struggled for years to find additional capacity for its overcrowded jails and prisons, which were designed to hold a combined total of 2,491 inmates, but which currently hold approximately 5,161 inmates. Replacing or refurbishing state prisons and jails to meet the current demand for adequate space and services would cost an estimated $1,500,000,000 to $2,000,000,000.

Your Committee also finds that acquisition of the Honolulu Federal Detention Center would enable it to serve as the new Oahu community correctional center and eliminate the immediate financial burden of building a new state correctional facility. This will also enable the current Oahu Community Correctional Center site to be vacated by the Department of Public Safety and redesignated for a non-correctional use.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage discussion; and

(2) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the

purposed of 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. 2362, 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. 2362, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

CHRIS LEE, Chair