Report Title:

Inmate Programs; Disaster Relief; Inmate Disaster Relief Program

 

Description:

Authorizes the director of civil defense to use inmate labor to assist with disaster relief efforts.  Establishes the inmate disaster relief labor program within the department of public safety.

 


HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

387

TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT


 

 

RELATING TO disaster relief.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  Chapter 128, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§128-    Inmate disaster relief program.  (a)  To assist in providing disaster relief, the director of civil defense, working with the department of public safety, may use inmates from a minimum security correctional facility who are:

     (1)  At community custody level;

     (2)  Trained in disaster relief; and

     (3)  Part of a labor pool that provides assistance in the event of a disaster.

     (b)  For purposes of this section:

     "Disaster" means the occurrence or threat of widespread or severe damage, injury, or loss of life or property resulting from any natural cause or cause of human origin; but does not include any hazardous substance incident, oil spill or other contamination, epidemic, air pollution, blight, drought, infestation, explosion, civil disturbance, or hostile military or paramilitary action.

     (c)  An inmate disaster relief crew may be utilized by any county or state government agency that requests services from the department of public safety pursuant to this section.  The director of civil defense may designate an inmate disaster relief crew as a temporary mobile reserve unit or a local organization for disaster relief."

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 353, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§353-    Inmate disaster relief labor program; establishment.  (a)  There is established within the department of public safety an inmate disaster relief labor program to provide a labor pool of inmate crews to assist with disaster relief efforts as provided in section 128-   .  Participants in the program shall be from minimum security correctional facilities who are of community custody level and have completed appropriate training in providing natural disaster relief efforts.

     (b)  The department shall establish policies and procedures, including but not limited to:

     (1)  Eligibility criteria for inmates to participate in the program;

     (2)  Types of disasters to which inmate disaster relief crews may be sent;

     (3)  Measures required to provide sufficient security to protect the public and prevent inmate escapes; and

     (4)  Fees that may be charged by the department for the provision of services and the compensation that may be paid to inmates participating in the program;

     (c)  The department may purchase equipment and obtain necessary training for any of the inmate disaster relief crews.  The department is authorized to solicit, accept, and expend appropriations, grants, donations, gifts, and other moneys to defer the costs of equipping and training inmate disaster relief crews.

     (d)  The inmate disaster relief labor program shall not be implemented or be made available to other agencies until sufficient moneys are available from appropriations, grants, donations, gifts, or other sources of income to cover the cost of equipping and training at least one inmate disaster relief crew."

     SECTION 3.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

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