STAND. COM. REP. NO. 161-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 2725

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Corrections, Military, & Veterans, to which was referred H.B. No. 2725 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES AUTHORITY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Establish the Correction Facilities Authority as the entity responsible for all public corrections development, planning, and construction related to capital improvement projects;

(2) Require the Department of Land and Natural Resources to transfer certain state lands in Kailua-Kona to the Correction Facilities Authority; and

(3) Require the Corrections Facilities Authority to apply for a loan or grant from the United States Department of Agriculture's Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant Program.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance; Office of Information Practices; Department of Land and Natural Resources; and State Procurement Office.

Your Committee finds that the establishment of the Correction Facilities Authority will ensure that there is a state entity solely responsible for the development, planning, and construction of capital improvement projects related to corrections. Your Committee further finds that the transfer of state lands, other than public lands, to the Correction Facilities Authority will allow the Authority to develop any new correctional facilities. Your Committee recognizes the concerns raised regarding the transfer of state lands that have already been set aside by the Governor through Executive Order to the County of Hawaiʻi and the Hawaiʻi Housing and Finance Development Corporation, or that have been contractually committed to the Department of Hawaiian Homes Lands. Therefore, your Committee finds that amendments are necessary to address these concerns.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting the requirement for the following parcels to be transferred to the Correction Facilities Authority:

(A) TMK (3) 7-4-020-004;

(B) TMK (3) 7-4-020-005;

(D) TMK (3) 7-4-020-007;

(E) TMK (3) 7-4-020-016;

(F) TMK (3) 7-4-020-017;

(G) TMK (3) 7-4-020-021;

(H) TMK (3) 7-4-020-035;

(I) TMK (3) 7-4-020-036; and

(J) TMK (3) 7-4-020-037;

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

(3) 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 Corrections, Military, & Veterans that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2725, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2725, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Corrections, Military, & Veterans,

____________________________

MARK J. HASHEM, Chair