HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1683

TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2014

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to public safety.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that older inmates are the fasting growing segment of the prison population in the United States.  A recent American Civil Liberties Union report noted that more than 246,000 people over the age of fifty were behind bars.  Generally, older inmates need more frequent and more expensive health care.  Not surprisingly, older prisoners are a growing expense for the State since tax dollars pay for most of the expenses of inmate health care.  To establish a plan to manage the rising cost of inmate health care, particularly for older inmates, the department of budget and finance and department of public safety, collaboratively, should conduct an economic impact analysis to identify ways to reduce costs, while providing adequate health care.

     The purpose of this Act is to require the department of budget and finance and the department of public safety to collaborate in conducting an economic impact analysis relating to managing the increasing costs of caring for aging inmates and establishing a plan to manage and reduce the cost of inmate health care, especially for older inmates.

     SECTION 2.  (a)  The department of budget and finance and the department of public safety shall collaborate to conduct a study of the economic impact of the current and future projected health care cost for incarcerated persons, with an emphasis on the health care needs of inmates fifty-five and older.  The study shall include:

     (1)  The current number of incarcerated persons fifty-five years of age or older;

     (2)  An estimate of the number of incarcerated persons who will be fifty-five years of age or older in each of the next ten years;

     (3)  An analysis of the current health care costs for incarcerated persons fifty-five years of age and older;

     (4)  An analysis of current health care costs for incarcerated persons under the age of fifty-five years; and

     (5)  A projected analysis of health care costs for incarcerated persons over the age of fifty-five years in 2024.

     (b)  The department of budget and finance and department of public safety shall establish a plan to manage the projected increase of health care costs for the aging incarcerated population for the next ten years.

     (c)  The department of budget and finance and the department of public safety shall submit report of their analysis, findings, and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the 2015 regular session.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

 

 


 


 

Report Title:

Aging Prison Populations; Economic Fiscal Impact; Costs

 

Description:

Requires BUF and PSD to conduct a study of the economic impact of health care costs for the aging incarcerated population and establish a plan to manage the projected health care costs.

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.