STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1121

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1002

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1002, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM OVERSIGHT COMMISSION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Extend the term of the Oversight Coordinator for the Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission;

(2) Authorize the Hawaii Correctional System Commission to review the Coordinator's performance and make a recommendation to the Governor as to whether the Coordinator should be retained; and

(3) Clarify that the Oversight Coordinator has the general authority to inspect agencies and correctional facilities without notice.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission, Office of the Public Defender, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Community Alliance on Prisons, ACLU of Hawaiʻi, Hawaiʻi Friends of Restorative Justice, Hawaiʻi Health & Harm Reduction Center, and two individuals.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

Your Committee finds that the term for the Oversight Coordinator of the Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission is currently two years. However, a two-year term does not provide sufficient time for an Oversight Coordinator to fully understand the role, build relationships, and develop and implement meaningful policies or projects. Short terms in this important position may hinder the Commission's ability to make significant progress or see initiatives through to completion, and frequent turnover can disrupt continuity, leading to inconsistent strategies and priorities that may undermine the effectiveness of the position and the Commission as a whole.

Therefore, it is in the best interest of the State that the position of Oversight Coordinator of the Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission be granted an additional year of term length and the opportunity for term renewal to promote the overall effectiveness of the Commission.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making it effective on July 1, 2025.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1002, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1002, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

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

________________________________

BRANDON J.C. ELEFANTE, Chair