STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2079

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2305

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2305 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 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, American Civil Liberties Union of Hawai‘i, Community Alliance on Prisons, Common Cause Hawaii, and seven individuals.

Your Committee finds that existing sentencing laws provide that the courts are responsible for setting maximum terms of imprisonment in accordance with applicable statutes. The Hawaii Paroling Authority establishes the minimum terms at which point the inmate becomes eligible for release into the community on parole. Additionally, the Department of Public Safety is required to develop and implement comprehensive reentry plans to help each inmate. Comprehensive reentry plans promote community safety by preparing inmates, upon parole eligibility, to make the difficult transition from the highly structured prison setting to life in the community. When offenders are held until their maximum terms expire, they have more difficulty adjusting to life in the community and are not subject to parole supervision. Your Committee believes that this measure will promote public safety by clarifying that programs and services that are part of the comprehensive offender reentry system result in the timely release of inmates on parole when the minimum term, rather than maximum term, has been served.

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 is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2305 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means.

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