STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1596

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2011

 

RE:   S.B. No. 986

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 3

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 986, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to address the issues of disproportionate representation and equity within the criminal justice system by establishing a task force to study and formulate policies and procedures to reduce the unnecessary involvement of individuals, particularly native Hawaiians, with the system.

 

     The Office of Hawaiian Affairs and Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs supported this bill.  The City and County of Honolulu Department of the Prosecuting Attorney, the Judiciary, and Community Alliance on Prisons offered comments.

 

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

 

     (1)  Inserting the phrase "disproportionate representation of native Hawaiians in the criminal justice system" in place of "disproportionate impact";

 

     (2)  Specifying that the criminalist on the task force will be selected by the Governor from a list of no more than three names submitted by the Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives;

 

     (3)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2030, to encourage further discussion; and

 

     (4)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 986, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 986, S.D. 2, H.D. 3.

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair