S.B. 2917 Summary

• Amends Hawaii Revised Statutes sections 353-16.35 and 353-16.37 to expand the governor's authority to negotiate development or expansion of in-state correctional facilities for reducing prison and jail overcrowding.

• Changes language to allow development and expansion proposals to address facility construction and operation together or separately, and requires consideration of inmate/detainee security classifications, infrastructure impacts, transportation effects, and useful life cost analysis.

• Modifies community partnering requirements to incorporate the process into the planning of any new prison or jail (previously limited to request for proposal stage) and mandates development of community benefit and enhancement packages.

• Authorizes the director of finance to issue $489,300,000 in general obligation bonds appropriated to the department of public safety for fiscal year 2016-2017 to purchase, construct, develop, or lease jail facilities for up to 1,250 beds for an Oahu community correctional center.

• Provides that appropriated funds shall not lapse at end of fiscal biennium, except that any unencumbered moneys as of June 30, 2018 shall lapse on that date; takes effect July 1, 2016.