S.C.R. No. 197 - Summary

• Request that the Department of Public Safety require in new contracts, and amend existing contracts, to allow incarcerated Native Hawaiians to practice both their Native Hawaiian religion and one other religion, subject to reasonable health, safety, and administrative concerns.

• Cites Article I, Section 4 of the Hawaii Constitution protecting freedom of religion and the federal Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (42 U.S.C. Chapter 21C) prohibiting substantial burdens on prisoner worship.

• Acknowledges that historically, many Native Hawaiians have practiced both Hawaiian religion and Christianity or Buddhism simultaneously, and that some incarcerated individuals have been forced to choose only one faith.

• Requires the Department of Public Safety to report to the Legislature no later than twenty days before the 2011 Regular Session convening on implementation of the requested contract provisions, including the specific contract language used.

• Direct certified copies of the resolution to the Governor, Director of Public Safety, relevant legislative committee chairs, and the Attorney General.