STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1747

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2021

 

RE:   S.C.R. No. 107

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Corrections, Military, & Veterans, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 107 entitled:

 

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY TO CORRECT ISSUES AND DISMANTLE BARRIERS RELATING TO THE PROVISION OF CIVIL IDENTIFICATION DOCUMENTS TO AND SUCCESSFUL COMMUNITY REENTRY OF INMATES EXITING INCARCERATION,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to request the Department of Public Safety to identify and correct issues and dismantle barriers relating to the provision of civil identification documents to, and successful community reentry of, inmates exiting incarceration.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Public Safety, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii, and one individual.

 

     Your Committee finds that the Department of Public Safety is statutorily required under part III of chapter 353H, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to provide comprehensive and effective reentry planning for adults exiting correctional facilities, subject to the availability of funding.  The Department is also required to assist inmates, upon request, to obtain their civil identification documents to aid in their reentry.  Your Committee finds that, despite these requirements, many inmates are exiting incarceration without identification documents, making it difficult to obtain the housing and employment essential to successfully take part in their community.  Accordingly, your Committee finds that an increased emphasis on reentry programs and the provision of civil identification documents by the Department is needed.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Corrections, Military, & Veterans that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 107 and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Corrections, Military, & Veterans,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

TAKASHI OHNO, Chair