STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2087

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 3137

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. 3137 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 necessary to transition into the workforce, access social services, and secure housing, rather than to issue civil identification cards.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Public Safety, Department of Human Services, Hawai‘i Health & Harm Reduction Center, and six individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawai‘i Correctional System Oversight Commission and Common Cause Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that individuals in the State's custody who will soon re-enter the community need valid government-issued identification to support their reentry. Government-issued identification is required to gain employment, obtain housing, and obtain certain necessary prescribed medications. This measure will allow individuals to more easily obtain government-issued identification from the proper government agencies 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 rather than to issue civil identification cards.

Your Committee has heard the testimony of Common Cause Hawaii expressing concerns that it is unclear as to how this assistance will interface with automatic voter registration. Your Committee finds that this issue raises concerns that merit further consideration and requests that your Committee on Judiciary further examine those issues and concerns raised by the testifiers on this measure.

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. 3137 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

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