HCR 23: REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND REHABILITATION, IN PLANNING AND DESIGNING THE NEW OAHU COMMUNITY CORRECTIONAL CENTER IN HALAWA, TO INCLUDE A CIRCUIT AND DISTRICT COURT FACILITY AND ESTABLISH A RELEASE PROCEDURE UNDER WHICH DETAINEES OR INMATES, UPON RELEASE, ARE TRANSPORTED TO A SITE OTHER THAN RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES OR PUBLIC SPACES.
- Session Year: 2025-2026
- House: House
- Latest Version Date: 2025-03-25
Current Status:
In Progress
(2025-04-15: Report adopted, referred to JDC.)
Introduced
In Committee
First Chamber
In Committee
Second Chamber
Final Decking
Enacted
REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND REHABILITATION, IN PLANNING AND DESIGNING THE NEW OAHU COMMUNITY CORRECTIONAL CENTER IN HALAWA, TO INCLUDE A CIRCUIT AND DISTRICT COURT FACILITY AND ESTABLISH A RELEASE PROCEDURE UNDER WHICH DETAINEES OR INMATES, UPON RELEASE, ARE TRANSPORTED TO A SITE OTHER THAN RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES OR PUBLIC SPACES.
Requesting the department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, in planning and designing the new Oahu Community Correctional Center in Halawa, to include circuit and district court facilities and Establish a release procedure under which detainees or inmates, upon release, are transported to a site other than residential communities or public spaces.
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.C.R. NO. |
23 |
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THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 |
H.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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HOUSE CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION
REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND REHABILITATION, IN PLANNING AND DESIGNING THE NEW OAHU COMMUNITY CORRECTIONAL CENTER IN HALAWA, TO INCLUDE A CIRCUIT AND DISTRICT COURT FACILITY AND ESTABLISH A RELEASE PROCEDURE UNDER WHICH DETAINEES OR INMATES, UPON RELEASE, ARE TRANSPORTED TO A SITE OTHER THAN RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES OR PUBLIC SPACES.
WHEREAS, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is currently in the planning and design stage of the new Oahu Community Correctional Center in Halawa to replace the current facility in Kalihi; and
WHEREAS, various factors should be considered in the planning and design of the replacement facility, including the costs related to operating the facility in Halawa rather than Kalihi and the impact on the surrounding communities; and
WHEREAS, concerns have been raised regarding the significant cost and impact of regularly transporting detainees between the new facility and courts in Honolulu for legal proceedings, including the costs of additional labor, vehicles, and gasoline, and contribution to the increase in greenhouse gas emissions and traffic congestion; and
WHEREAS, concerns have also been raised by the surrounding communities regarding the possible impact on public safety by having the new Oahu Community Correctional Center release detainees or inmates directly into residential communities or public spaces such as parks; and
WHEREAS, section 353-16.37, Hawaii Revised Statutes, requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the affected community to develop a Community Benefit and Enhancement Package, which may include but not be limited to infrastructure improvements and other government functions, to mitigate the negative aspects of building a correctional facility in the community; and
WHEREAS, having a circuit and district court facility within the new Oahu Community Correctional Center in Halawa will significantly reduce the frequency of transporting detainees between the new facility and courts in Honolulu; and
WHEREAS, having the new Oahu Community Correctional Center adhere to a release procedure under which detainees or inmates, upon release, are transported to a site other than residential communities or public spaces will mitigate possible impacts on public safety; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, the Senate concurring, that the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, in planning and designing the new Oahu Community Correctional Center in Halawa, is requested to:
(1) Coordinate with the Judiciary to include a circuit and district court facility in the new Oahu Community Correctional Center; and
(2) Establish a release procedure to be implemented by the new Oahu Community Correctional Center under which detainees or inmates, upon release, are transported to a site other than residential communities or public spaces; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, Director of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and Chief Justice of the Hawaii Supreme Court.
Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation; Judiciary; Department of Accounting and General Services; Governor; New Oahu Community Correctional Center; Planning and Designs; Courts; Release Procedures
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.C.R. NO. |
23 |
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THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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HOUSE CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION
Requesting the department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, in planning and designing the new Oahu Community Correctional Center in Halawa, to include circuit and district court facilities and Establish a release procedure under which detainees or inmates, upon release, are transported to a site other than residential communities or public spaces.
WHEREAS, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is currently in the planning and design stage of the new Oahu Community Correctional Center in Halawa to replace the current facility in Kalihi; and
WHEREAS, various factors should be considered in the planning and design of the replacement facility, including the costs related to operating the facility in Halawa rather than Kalihi and the impact on the surrounding communities; and
WHEREAS, concerns have been raised regarding the significant cost and impact of regularly transporting detainees between the new facility and courts in Honolulu for legal proceedings, including the costs of additional labor, vehicles, and gasoline, and contribution to the increase in greenhouse gas emissions and traffic congestion; and
WHEREAS, concerns have also been raised by the surrounding communities regarding the possible impact on public safety by having the new Oahu Community Correctional Center release detainees or inmates directly into residential communities or public spaces such as parks; and
WHEREAS, section 353-16.37, Hawaii Revised Statutes, requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the affected community to develop a Community Benefit and Enhancement Package, which may include but not be limited to infrastructure improvements and other government functions, to mitigate the negative aspects of building a correctional facility in the community; and
WHEREAS, having circuit and district court facilities within the new Oahu Community Correctional Center in Halawa will significantly reduce the frequency of transporting detainees between the new facility and courts in Honolulu; and
WHEREAS, having the new Oahu Community Correctional Center adhere to a release procedure under which detainees or inmates, upon release, are transported to a site other than residential communities or public spaces will mitigate possible impacts on public safety; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, the Senate concurring, that the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, in planning and designing the new Oahu Community Correctional Center in Halawa, is requested to:
(1) Coordinate with the Judiciary to include circuit and district court facilities in the new Oahu Community Correctional Center; and
(2) Establish a release procedure to be implemented by the new Oahu Community Correctional Center under which detainees or inmates, upon release, are transported to a site other than residential communities or public spaces; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, Director of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and Chief Justice of the Hawaii Supreme Court.
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OFFERED BY: |
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Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation; Judiciary; Department of Accounting and General Services; Governor; New Oahu Community Correctional Center; Planning and Designs; Courts; Release Procedures
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Date
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Status
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| Apr 15, 2025 | Report adopted, referred to JDC. |
| Apr 15, 2025 | Reported from PSM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1895), with recommendation of referral to JDC. |
| Apr 11, 2025 | The committee(s) on PSM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in PSM were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Elefante, Wakai, Fukunaga, Rhoads, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none. |
| Apr 8, 2025 | The committee(s) on PSM has scheduled a public hearing on 04-11-25 3:05PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference. |
| Apr 4, 2025 | Referred to PSM, JDC. |
| Apr 4, 2025 | Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 502). |
| Apr 3, 2025 | Adopted with Representative(s) Amato voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Woodson excused (2). |
| Apr 3, 2025 | Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1853), recommending adoption. |
| Apr 1, 2025 | The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 10 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Hashem, Kahaloa, Perruso, Takayama, Todd, Garcia, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran. |
| Mar 28, 2025 | Resolution scheduled to be heard by JHA on Tuesday, 04-01-25 2:00PM in conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. |
| Mar 27, 2025 | Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on JHA as amended in HD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Hashem, Hussey, Templo, Ward excused (4). |
| Mar 27, 2025 | Reported from PBS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1588) as amended in HD 1, recommending referral to JHA. |
| Mar 21, 2025 | The committee on PBS recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Belatti, Iwamoto, Ichiyama, Poepoe, Shimizu, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 4 Excused: Representative(s) Hashem, Lamosao, Morikawa, Woodson. |
| Mar 18, 2025 | Resolution scheduled to be heard by PBS on Friday, 03-21-25 9:00AM in conference room 411 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. |
| Mar 14, 2025 | Referred to PBS, JHA, referral sheet 22 |
| Feb 27, 2025 | Offered |
| Feb 20, 2025 | To be offered. |
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Date
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Description
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Location
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Votes
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| Apr 11, 2025 | The committee(s) on PSM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED | Senate Standing Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs |
Passed |
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| Apr 1, 2025 | The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED | House Standing Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs |
Passed |
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| Mar 21, 2025 | The committee on PBS recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS | House Standing Committee on Public Safety |
Passed |
This list shows positions taken on this bill by organizations on the date displayed, which is linked to the original source.
Positions by individuals are not included.
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Organization
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Position
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Date
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| Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation | ** Support | |
| Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission | ** Support | |
| Judiciary | ** Support | |
| the Office of the Public Defender | ** Support |
STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1895
Honolulu, Hawaii
H.D. 1
President of the Senate
Thirty-Third State Legislature
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 23, H.D. 1, entitled:
"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND REHABILITATION, IN PLANNING AND DESIGNING THE NEW OAHU COMMUNITY CORRECTIONAL CENTER IN HALAWA, TO INCLUDE A CIRCUIT AND DISTRICT COURT FACILITY AND ESTABLISH A RELEASE PROCEDURE UNDER WHICH DETAINEES OR INMATES, UPON RELEASE, ARE TRANSPORTED TO A SITE OTHER THAN RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES OR PUBLIC SPACES,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, in planning and designing the new Oahu Community Correctional Center in Halawa, to include a circuit and district court facility and establish a release procedure under which detainees or inmates, upon release, are transported to a site other than residential communities or public spaces.
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Judiciary, Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and one individual.
Your Committee finds that easing and increasing incarcerated individuals' access to the court system is an important aspect of the correctional and rehabilitative process. Your Committee further finds that the current practice of transporting newly released inmates directly into community settings may create public safety concerns. Accordingly, this measure requests the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to provide a district and circuit court facility within the new Oahu Community Correctional Center at Halawa, facilitating easier access to the judicial system for inmates that will not require travel. This measure further requests that the Department establish procedures to transport released individuals to sites other than residential areas or public spaces to address the concerns of surrounding areas.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 23, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs,
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________________________________ BRANDON J.C. ELEFANTE, Chair |
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STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1853
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2025
RE: H.C.R. No. 23
H.D. 1
Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura
Speaker, House of Representatives
Thirty-Third State Legislature
Regular Session of 2025
State of Hawaii
Madame:
Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 23, H.D. 1, entitled:
"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND REHABILITATION, IN PLANNING AND DESIGNING THE NEW OAHU COMMUNITY CORRECTIONAL CENTER IN HALAWA, TO INCLUDE A CIRCUIT AND DISTRICT COURT FACILITY AND ESTABLISH A RELEASE PROCEDURE UNDER WHICH DETAINEES OR INMATES, UPON RELEASE, ARE TRANSPORTED TO A SITE OTHER THAN RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES OR PUBLIC SPACES,"
begs leave to report as follows:
Your Committee finds that the relocation and modernization of the Oahu Community Correctional Center (OCCC) presents an opportunity to enhance public safety and streamline judicial processes. Including a circuit and district court facility within the new OCCC would improve efficiency by reducing inmate transport risks and costs. Additionally, establishing a structured release procedure to transport released individuals to designated locations, rather than residential communities or public spaces, will help mitigate concerns about community safety and homelessness.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 23, H.D. 1, and recommends its adoption.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,
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____________________________ DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair |
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STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1588
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2025
RE: H.C.R. No. 23
H.D. 1
Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura
Speaker, House of Representatives
Thirty-Third State Legislature
Regular Session of 2025
State of Hawaii
Madame:
Your Committee on Public Safety, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 23 entitled:
"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND REHABILITATION, IN PLANNING AND DESIGNING THE NEW OAHU COMMUNITY CORRECTIONAL CENTER IN HALAWA, TO INCLUDE CIRCUIT AND DISTRICT COURT FACILITIES AND ESTABLISH A RELEASE PROCEDURE UNDER WHICH DETAINEES OR INMATES, UPON RELEASE, ARE TRANSPORTED TO A SITE OTHER THAN RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES OR PUBLIC SPACES,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The committee recommends changing the language from "facilities" to "facility", in the title and the body of the resolution, in order to address the comments received from the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 23, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 23, H.D. 1.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety,
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____________________________ DELLA AU BELATTI, Chair |
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Date
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Testimony PDF
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| Apr 11, 2025 | HCR23_HD1_TESTIMONY_PSM_04-11-25_.PDF |
| Apr 1, 2025 | HCR23_HD1_TESTIMONY_JHA_04-01-25_.PDF |
| Mar 20, 2025 | HCR23_TESTIMONY_PBS_03-21-25_.PDF |
Discussed in Hearing
1MIN
Senate Standing Committee on Health and Human Services
1MIN
Senate Standing Committee on Transportation and Culture and the Arts
1MIN
Senate Standing Committee on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs
1MIN
Senate Standing Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs
2MIN
House Standing Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs
2MIN
House Standing Committee on Public Safety
Bill Author
Bill Co-Author(s):