STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2112

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2307

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2307 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO IDENTIFICATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Require the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, in collaboration with various agencies and upon request of the inmates, to assist inmates in obtaining the inmates' civil identification card, birth certificate, social security card, and other relevant identification necessary for successful reentry into society, as soon as practicable; and

(2) Require the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to initiate the process of obtaining identifying documents for inmates released to work furloughs, extended furlough, or community placement programs by providing the forms necessary for the inmate to obtain civil identification cards and other identifying documents to the inmates as soon as practicable.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Office of the Prosecuting Attorney of the County of Hawaii, and one individual.

Your Committee finds that individuals transitioning from incarceration often encounter obstacles while trying to obtain necessary identification documents, which has often been cited as a contributing factor to recidivism. Your Committee further finds that increasing collaboration between the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and departments that provide identification documents will aid individuals in accessing necessary resources. This measure will encourage the positive reintegration of justice-involved individuals by helping them access needed services at the most crucial time, prior to release from incarceration and reentry into the community.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2307 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means.

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

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GLENN WAKAI, Chair