STAND. COM. REP. NO. 123-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 1739

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Corrections, Military, & Veterans, to which was referred H.B. No. 1739 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC SAFETY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to clarify that the comprehensive offender reentry system provides programs and services that result in the timely release of inmates on parole when the minimum term, rather than the maximum term, has been served by the inmate.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Public Safety, Hawai‘i Correctional System Oversight Commission, Common Cause Hawaii, Community Alliance on Prisons, Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition, American Civil Liberties Union of Hawai‘i, and one individual.

Your Committee finds that this measure will correct language that was incorporated into chapter 353L, Hawaii Revised Statutes, when the Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission was first established by Act 179, Session Laws of Hawaii 2019. At the time, the commission was charged with various oversight responsibilities, including ensuring that the comprehensive offender reentry system under chapter 353H, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is working properly to provide programs and services that result in the timely release of inmates on parole.

Your Committee finds that the Hawaii Paroling Authority establishes minimum terms of imprisonment when an inmate becomes eligible for release into the community under parole supervision. The Department of Public Safety is required to develop and implement comprehensive reentry plans to help each inmate make the difficult transition from the prison setting to community life. As written, section 353L-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, inadvertently provides the commission's oversight of "programs and services that result in the timely release of inmates on parole when the maximum terms have been served". Accordingly, your Committee finds this one-word housekeeping amendment to change "maximum" to "minimum" is necessary.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Corrections, Military, & Veterans that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1739 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Corrections, Military, & Veterans,

____________________________

TAKASHI OHNO, Chair