STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1586

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 823

       H.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 823, H.D. 2, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DEATHS WITHIN THE CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

 

     (1)  Expand the scope of reports on correctional facility and community correctional center deaths that are submitted to the Governor and Legislature;

 

     (2)  Require certain reports to be published on the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation website; and

 

     (3)  Mandate public access to other information reported.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission, Community Alliance on Prisons, Civil Beat Law Center for the Public Interest, ACLU of Hawaii, Opportunity Youth Action Hawaii, and three individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Public Safety.

 

     Your Committee finds that the occurrence of death is an unfortunate reality in jails and prisons.  Responsible reporting of deaths is essential to ensure accurate communication of information to the public for purposes of transparency and trust.  This measure will broaden the process for the public disclosure of deaths of incarcerated individuals.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 823, H.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

 

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

 

 

 

________________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair