STAND. COM. REP. NO. 240

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 1002

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Public Safety, to which was referred H.B. No. 1002 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Extend the term of the Oversight Coordinator of the Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission, beginning July 1, 2025; and

(2) 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; Community Alliance on Prisons; American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaiʻi; and three individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

Your Committee finds that a two-year term for the Oversight Coordinator does not provide sufficient time for the individual to fully understand the role, build relationships, or develop and implement meaningful policies or projects. Your Committee further finds that unfettered access to information and correctional facilities allows the Oversight Coordinator to uncover and address issues like poor conditions or abuse, ensuring humane treatment and fostering public trust in the corrections system.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Extending the term of the Oversight Coordinator by three years rather than four years;

(2) Authorizing 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 for an additional term;

(3) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

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

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

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety,

____________________________

DELLA AU BELATTI, Chair