Bill Text: HI SR89 | 2010 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Corrections Population Management Commission; Public Safety

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-1)

Status: (Passed) 2010-04-08 - (S) Report and Resolution Adopted, as amended (SD 1). [SR89 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2010-SR89-Amended.html

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STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3070

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.R. No. 89

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.R. No. 89 entitled:

 

"SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE CORRECTIONS POPULATION MANAGEMENT COMMISSION TO RESUME ITS MEETINGS AND TO MEET AT LEAST QUARTERLY,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to request the:

 

(1)  Corrections Population Management Commission to resume its meetings and to meet at least quarterly to carry out its objectives; and

 

(2)  Department of Public Safety to distribute population reports and other relevant population information at Commission meetings, and to make all handouts, population reports, and related information available on its website.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from two private entities.  Comments were received from one state department.  Written testimony presented to the Committee may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

 

     The Corrections Population Management Commission is administratively attached to the Department of Public Safety.  The objective of the Commission pursuant to section 353F-1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is "to establish maximum inmate population limits for each correctional facility and to formulate policies and procedures to prevent the inmate population from exceeding the capacity of each correctional facility."  The Commission was established by law to assist the State in satisfying the requirements of a consent decree, which was the result of the 1985 lawsuit regarding overcrowding in correctional facilities.

 

     The recent decision to close the Kulani Correctional Facility was not brought before the Commission for discussion.  Likewise, the placement of fifty-four per cent of Hawaii's corrections population in private prisons on the continental United States should be a matter of discussion and debate for the Commission.  Additionally, several other apparent operational deficiencies have been brought to the attention of your Committee which has oversight authority for public safety.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 89, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.R. No. 89, S.D. 1.

 

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

 

		____________________________ WILL ESPERO, Chair