STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1647

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.C.R. No. 10

       H.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 10, H.D. 1, entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO REVIEW AND REPORT ON STATE CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES' LEAVE POLICIES AND CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS' LEAVE USAGE RATES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request that the Auditor:

     (1)  Review and report on state correctional facilities' leave policies and correctional officers' leave usage rates;

     (2)  Determine whether the abuse of policies is causing operational disruptions, exposing the State to unnecessary costs, or endangering the safety of inmates, staff, and the surrounding community; and

     (3)  Submit a report of findings and recommendations, including proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2016.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Public Safety; Community Alliance on Prisons; Ho‘omana Pono, LLC; and four individuals.

     Your Committee finds that a large number of correctional officers scheduled to work called in sick on New Year's Day in 2013 and 2014.  Similar unexpected absences for sick leave have occurred on Super Bowl Sunday.  Abuse of sick leave by correctional officers can cause critical staffing shortages in correctional facilities and force the use of overtime by remaining staff members, contributing to the Department of Public Safety incurring substantial overtime costs.

     In addition, a staff shortage can diminish the services of correctional facilities, such as visiting hours.  An audit of all state correctional facilities' leave policies and leave usage rates by correctional officers will provide an understanding of whether the abuse of such policies is causing operational disruptions, exposing the State to unnecessary costs, or endangering the safety of inmates, staff, and the surrounding community.

     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 concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 10, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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

________________________________

WILL ESPERO, Chair