STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1664

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

 

RE:   S.C.R. No. 128

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 128, S.D. 2, entitled:

 

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE JUDICIARY TO FORM A WORKING GROUP TO EXAMINE SMARTER SENTENCING TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY AND RELIABILITY OF STATE CRIMINAL SENTENCING PRACTICES,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure to examine smarter sentencing to improve the quality and reliability of sentencing practices by assembling a working group of stakeholders to report back to the Legislature prior to the convening of the 2016 Regular Legislative Session.

 

     Your committee received testimony in support from the Crime Victim Compensation Fund, Department of Public Safety, County Council of Maui, the Community Alliance on Prisons, Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition, The Institute for Human Services, The Sex Abuse Treatment Center and concerned members of the community.  There was no testimony in opposition.  The Judiciary offered comments.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

(1) Inserted language on page 2 lines 1-3 to include background information on sentencing done in Hawaii and who contains the legal authority on sentencing guidelines for minimum terms of imprisonment; and

(2)In page 2 lines 5-8 recommended that the Judiciary is more appropriate in retaining authority on sentencing rather than the Hawaii Paroling Authority; and

(3)Revised the language on page 2, lines 8-9 to include "such as whether a crime is especially heinous, atrocious or cruel"; and

(4)Inserted page 3, lines 39-42 to exempt working group members from Chapter 84; and

(5)Amended title to reflect working group changes; and

(6)Added Director of Paroling Authority to recipients; and

(7)Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style

 

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 128, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 128, S.D. 2, H.D. 1.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair