Report Title:

Emergency Appropriation; Housing Inmates

Description:

Appropriates emergency funds to transfer inmates to the Federal Detention Center or to mainland facilities. (SB2976 HD1)

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2976

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2004

S.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

H.D. 1


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

MAKING AN EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY.

 

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

SECTION 1. This Act is recommended by the governor for immediate passage in accordance with article VII, section 9, of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii.

SECTION 2. This emergency appropriation is necessary to reduce crowding in Hawaii's correctional facilities by allowing the department of public safety to:

(1) Contract for additional correctional beds on the mainland and at the federal detention center; and

(2) Pay for transportation costs to transfer inmates.

As of November 17, 2003, the number of inmates housed in local facilities exceeded the State's operating capacity by twenty-one per cent (four thousand two hundred twenty inmates versus three thousand four hundred eighty-seven beds).

Overcrowding of correctional facilities creates significant challenges for the department of public safety to effectively manage the inmate population. The only viable short-term solution to overcrowding is to expand capacity by increasing the number of contract beds in the federal detention center and mainland correctional facilities.

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2003-2004 for additional transportation and necessary operation costs to house inmates in the federal detention center in Honolulu or in mainland correctional facilities.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of public safety for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2010.