STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1181-20

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2020

RE: H.C.R. No. 47

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Public Safety, Veterans, & Military Affairs, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 47 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY TO CONDUCT A STUDY ON THE EFFECTS OF FELONY DISENFRANCHISEMENT, PARTICULARLY THE EFFECTS ON MINORITY GROUPS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Department of Public Safety to conduct a study on the effects of felony disenfranchisement, particularly the effects on minority groups, and to submit a report of its findings, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2021.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Community Alliance on Prisons, American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii, and six individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Public Safety.

Your Committee finds that the requested study will be valuable in informing the Legislature whether changes in policy and practice regarding voting rights for incarcerated persons are warranted.

Your Committee notes that through Act 179, Session Laws of Hawaii 2019, the Legislature established a Criminal Justice Research Institute within the Office of the Chief Justice to examine all aspects of the criminal justice system for the purpose of assisting the State in understanding the system in a more comprehensive way and ensuring the protection of individual rights, increasing efficiencies, and controlling costs. In accordance with this purpose and the authority granted to the Criminal Justice Research Institute, your Committee finds it to be the more appropriate body to conduct the study.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Requesting the Criminal Justice Research Institute, rather than the Department of Public Safety, to conduct the study and submit a report of its findings, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2021; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety, Veterans, & Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 47, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Judiciary in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 47, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety, Veterans, & Military Affairs,

____________________________

GREGG TAKAYAMA, Chair