Bill Text: HI HB1235 | 2024 | Regular Session | Amended

Hawaii House Bill 1235

Amended

Bill Title: Relating To Corrections.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 9-0)

Status: (Engrossed) 2023-12-11 - Carried over to 2024 Regular Session. [HB1235 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2024-HB1235-Amended.html

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1235
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023		H.D. 2
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO CORRECTIONS.

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that a civil lawsuit in federal court alleged that a group of women at the women's community correctional center were sexually assaulted at least fifty-three times from 2013 to 2016. A similar case, Smith v. State of Hawaii, resulted in a $100,000 settlement, with $50,000 coming from the State and another $50,000 coming from the adult correctional officer who pled guilty. These lawsuits pointed specifically to the lack of cameras in the correctional center's control rooms, where a majority of the sexual assaults allegedly occurred. According to court documents, in some cases, staff offered food, makeup, crystal meth, and special privileges to inmates in return for compliance with sexual demands and punishments for noncompliance. Any sexual contact between an inmate and staff is a felony under existing law because prisoners cannot legally give consent.

The legislature further finds that additional cameras in control rooms and body cameras for all adult correctional officers would help deter sexual assaults and contraband, thereby building a defense against future lawsuits and protecting inmates from rogue adult correctional officers.

The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds for:

(1) The purchase and installation of digital cameras in all adult correctional officer control rooms at state correctional facilities; and

(2) The purchase of body cameras for adult correctional officers to wear while on duty at state correctional facilities.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2023-2024 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 to purchase and install digital cameras in all adult correctional officer control rooms at state correctional facilities and to purchase body cameras for adult correctional officers to wear while on duty at state correctional facilities.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of public safety for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3. On January 1, 2024, all responsibilities and appropriations under this Act shall transfer from the department of public safety to the department of corrections and rehabilitation, as established by Act 278, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on June 30, 3000.

Report Title:

DPS; Adult Correctional Officers; Control Rooms; Cameras; Body Cameras; Appropriation

Description:

Appropriates funds for purchasing digital cameras for all adult correctional officer control rooms at state correctional facilities and body cameras for adult correctional officers to wear while on duty at state correctional facilities. Effective 6/30/3000. (HD2)

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