STAND. COM. REP. NO. 275

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2005

RE: S.B. No. 1331

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Health and Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 1331 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS AND MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR A NEW SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT FACILITY,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to authorize the issuance of general obligation bonds for a capital improvement project for a substance abuse facility.

The Department of Public Safety submitted testimony in support of this measure.

Your Committees find that crystal methamphetamine (ice) is a dangerous drug that can cause increased heart rate and blood pressure, psychotic behavior, aggression, and paranoia. Long term ice use reportedly can lead to heart attack, stroke, and irreversible brain damage causing permanent mental disabilities. Ice use has increased to epidemic numbers in Hawaii, and the number of inmates with addictions has increased proportionately. As of 2003, approximately two thousand six hundred and ninety male inmates (fifty-four percent) and three hundred forty-seven female inmates (fifty-two percent) were identified as being in need of substance abuse treatment.

Your Committees further find that the correctional system's total treatment capacity at any time is four hundred twenty-four inmates, which is only about fourteen percent of the three thousand thirty-seven inmates identified as needing substance abuse treatment. This measure authorizes general obligation bonds for designing, constructing, and equipping a new substance abuse treatment facility.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1331 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Health and Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

COLLEEN HANABUSA, Chair

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair