STAND. COM. REP. NO.  694

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1400

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Public Safety & Military Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1400 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CORRECTIONAL INDUSTRIES,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to permit corrections officers to purchase uniforms directly from the Correctional Industries program at their own expense.

 

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

 

     Under current law, newly employed corrections officers receive four uniforms, which they are required to wear while on duty.  The corrections officers can replace one uniform annually at the expense of the Department of Public Safety.  All uniforms are available only from the Correctional Industries program and are not available elsewhere.

 

     Your Committee finds that corrections officers should be able to purchase additional uniforms at their own expense, which is not possible at this time.  Your Committee further finds that if certain circumstances, such as substantial weight gain or loss, require a corrections officer to obtain additional uniforms, this measure would permit the corrections officer to do so.  In addition, this measure might prevent the usual wear and tear on Department of Public Safety issued uniforms.  Furthermore, if the demand for uniforms increases, Correctional Industries, the sole-producer of the uniforms, could provide more work opportunities to inmates, who assist in the manufacturing of the uniforms.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety & Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1400 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety & Military Affairs,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

CINDY EVANS, Chair