STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1124

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   S.B. No. 1039

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Public Safety, to which was referred S.B. No. 1039, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC SAFETY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the Department of Public Safety to work with appropriate federal, state, and county agencies to assist inmates in obtaining important government documents, including a social security card, driver's license, civil identification card, or birth certificate necessary for successful reentry into society.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, Community Alliance on Prisons, YWCA Oahu, Hoomana Pono, LLC., Progressive Democrats of Hawaii, Hawaii Friends of Restorative Justice, Hawaii Women's Coalition, McKeague & Haley Inc., and many concerned individuals supported this measure.  The Department of Health opposed this measure.  The Department of Public Safety, County of Hawaii Finance Department, City and County of Honolulu Department of Customer Services, and a concerned individual offered comments.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Clarifying that eligible inmates who are Hawaii-born shall be provided free of charge a certified copy of the inmate's birth certificate and a civil identification card before the inmate's release on parole; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     Should the Committee on Finance decide to deliberate further on this measure, your Committee respectfully requests that it consider appropriating $20,000 for fiscal year 2017-2018 to help pay for the implementation of assisting inmates in obtaining important government documents necessary for successful reentry into society.

     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 S.B. No. 1039, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1039, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

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

____________________________

GREGG TAKAYAMA, Chair