STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1332

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 107

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 107 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY TO CORRECT ISSUES AND DISMANTLE BARRIERS RELATING TO THE PROVISION OF CIVIL IDENTIFICATION DOCUMENTS TO AND SUCCESSFUL COMMUNITY REENTRY OF INMATES EXITING INCARCERATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Department of Public Safety to correct issues and dismantle barriers relating to the provision of civil identification documents and successful community re-entry of inmates exiting incarceration.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Public Safety, American Civil Liberties Union of Hawai‘i, and three individuals.

Your Committee finds that re-entry programs assist people who are released from jails and prisons to obtain post-secondary education, housing, employment, and treatment. These re-entry programs help formerly incarcerated people undergo a smooth and successful transition back into their communities, which results in reduced recidivism and improved public safety. Pursuant to section 353H-32, Hawaii Revised Statutes, the Department of Public Safety is required, upon request, to issue civil identification cards to inmates exiting correctional facilities; and assist those inmates in obtaining the inmates' own birth certificates, social security cards, and any other relevant identification documents necessary to promote the inmates' successful transition from incarceration. Despite section 353H-32, Hawaii Revised Statutes, many inmates are exiting incarceration without identification documentation. This measure will request the Department of Public Safety to expeditiously identify and correct issues that prevent the Department from complying with section 353H-32, Hawaii Revised Statutes, with respect to providing requested civil identification cards and assistance with other identification documents to individuals exiting correctional facilities so that those individuals may successfully re-enter into their community.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 107 and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs,

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CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair