STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1183-20

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2020

 

RE:   H.C.R. No. 64

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Public Safety, Veterans, & Military Affairs, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 64 entitled:

 

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A WORKING GROUP TO STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF BUILDING AN ADDITIONAL WORK FURLOUGH CENTER ON THE PRESENT SITE OF THE OAHU COMMUNITY CORRECTIONAL CENTER ONCE THE OAHU COMMUNITY CORRECTIONAL CENTER HAS BEEN RELOCATED TO HALAWA,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to request the establishment of a working group to study the feasibility of building an additional work furlough center on the present site of the Oahu Community Correctional Center (OCCC) once OCCC has been relocated to Halawa.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Public Safety.

 

     Your Committee finds that the Laumaka Work Furlough Center, located about one block from OCCC, houses inmates who are either actively seeking employment or working in the community, as a means to ease their transition upon release.  The Laumaka Work Furlough Center has space for ninety-six inmates, while twice that number are eligible for the work furlough program.

 

     Your Committee also finds that plans for the new OCCC in Halawa Valley call for a separate structure to accommodate eligible work furlough inmates who are unable to be accommodated at the Laumaka Work Furlough Center.  Your Committee further finds, however, that the Laumaka Work Furlough Center's location in Kalihi is preferable to the more remote Halawa site because it affords easy access to public transportation and work places for inmates in the work furlough program.  With the relocation of OCCC to Halawa, the existing site will be available to be repurposed and could serve as an adjunct to the neighboring Laumaka Work Furlough Center.

 

     Accordingly, your Committee finds that requesting a working group to be established to study the feasibility of building an additional work furlough center on the present site of OCCC once it has been relocated to Halawa is appropriate, with the working group requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the Legislature prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2021.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety, Veterans, & Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 64 and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

GREGG TAKAYAMA, Chair