Bill Text: HI SB3043 | 2012 | Regular Session | Introduced

Hawaii Senate Bill 3043 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Public Safety; Work Release Pilot Program

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-01-27 - (S) Referred to PGM/WLH, WAM. [SB3043 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2012-SB3043-Introduced.html

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	3043
TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2012
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that incarcerated individuals who do not pose a threat to public safety can work in the community on community projects that are accommodating to their level of skill. For example, the island of Hawaii has hundreds of acres of plant invasive species such as Miconia calvescens, a species of tree from South America which, according to the Smithsonian Institution, is the one plant that could really destroy the Hawaiian forest. Other areas of the State are infested with the banana polka and the albezia, which also choke and kill native plants, and the eradication of invasive species such as miconia has largely been the work of volunteers. Given the need for invasive species control and other work in local communities and the overcrowding of the State's correctional facilities, the legislature finds that allowing incarcerated individuals who do not pose a public safety threat to work in the community would provide valuable services while creating opportunities for incarcerated individuals to learn new skills and apply them in ways that benefit the State.

The purpose of this Act is to create a pilot program to allow incarcerated individuals on the Big Island to work in the community on community projects that benefit the local community and the State.

SECTION 2. (a) There is created within the department of public safety a work release pilot program on the island of Hawaii to allow incarcerated individuals on the island of Hawaii to work on community projects on the island of Hawaii that benefit the local community and the State; provided that those individuals who would work outside a correctional facility as part of the work release pilot program pose no threat to public safety, as determined by the director of public safety.

(b) The department of land and natural resources shall collaborate with the department of public safety to identify any potential community projects on the island of Hawaii that could benefit from using incarcerated persons in accordance with this Act.

(c) The department of public safety may provide for the shelter of incarcerated persons outside of a correctional facility while participating in the work release pilot program on the island of Hawaii.

(d) The department of public safety may receive public and private grants for purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect upon its approval and shall be repealed on June 30, 2015.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

Public Safety; Work Release Pilot Program

Description:

Creates a work release pilot program on the Big Island to allow certain incarcerated individuals on the Big Island to work on community projects on the Big Island that benefit the local community and the State. Repeals 6/30/2015.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.