STAND. COM. REP. NO.  693-18

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2018

 

RE:   H.B. No. 2280

      H.D. 2

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Public Safety, to which was referred H.B. No. 2280, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to address the persistent security problems at the Hawaii State Hospital in Kaneohe, Oahu by appropriating funds to the Department of Health for the purchase of electronic security devices, additional lighting and cameras, and capital improvement projects including gates, relocation of a guard shack and entry road, and the design and construction of a security fence.  This measure additionally requires the Department of Health to report to the Legislature on the progress of implementing its security corrective action plan, the number of escapes in the prior year, and other findings and legislative recommendations.

 

     The Department of Health and Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii supported this measure.  

 

     Your Committee respectfully questions the need for and financial cost of the proposed security fence around the ninety-acre Hawaii State Hospital campus.  Your Committee finds that the Hawaii State Hospital already has existing fencing erected and that the planned new 144-bed psychiatric facility scheduled to be completed in 2021 on the grounds of the Hawaii State Hospital will have high-security measures within the new facility, which will likely eliminate the need for the proposed security fence.

 

     Your Committee also notes that the Hawaii State Hospital has complied with the City and County of Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting's permitting procedure by requesting funds from the Legislature.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the appropriation amount for fiscal year 2018-2019 from:

 

     (1)  $35,000 for the purchase of electronic ankle monitoring bracelets and metal detector hand wands for the Hawaii State Hospital to an unspecified amount;

 

     (2)  $50,000 for the purchase and installation of perimeter lighting and signage on the Hawaii State Hospital campus to an unspecified amount;

 

     (3)  $500,000 for the purchase and installation of closed circuit television cameras at the Hawaii State Hospital to monitor new security fencing areas and other portions of the campus to an unspecified amount; and

 

     (4)  $650,000 for the planning, design, and construction for the relocation of the post 1 guard shack and entry road closer to Cooke building to unspecified amounts.

 

     Your Committee notes that the Department of Health testified that it has already set aside the funding for the various security enhancements proposed in this measure.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2280, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2280, H.D. 2.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

GREGG TAKAYAMA, Chair