STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3852

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2169

H.D. 1

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 2169, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE COMPREHENSIVE OFFENDER REENTRY SYSTEM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to clarify that the Department of Public Safety's role is to work with the Department of Transportation and county examiners of drivers to assist inmates in procuring civil identification cards necessary to transition into the workforce, access social services, and secure housing, rather than issue civil identification cards.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Public Safety, Community Alliance on Prisons, Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition, and seven individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the American Civil Liberties Union of Hawai‘i and eleven individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from Common Cause Hawaii and one individual.

Your Committee finds that identification cards are an essential part of reentry to access need services because many services are not possible without proper identification, including medical and behavioral health services, employment, and even housing. People leaving prisons and jails with government identification may be able to more quickly access vital services and support, while those without such identification will likely face significant barriers to successful reentry. This measure will aid inmates reentering the community by clarifying that the Department of Public Safety's role is to work with the Department of Transportation and county examiners of drivers to assist inmates in procuring civil identification cards necessary to transition into the workforce, access social services, and secure housing, rather than issue civil identification cards.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an effective date of July 30, 2075, to encourage further discussion; and

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

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. 2169, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2169, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.

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

________________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair