HB 1719 Summary

• Amends Hawaii Revised Statutes Section 353H-7 to require the Department of Public Safety to return all Hawaii inmates held in out-of-state prisons by December 31, 2020, provided adequate bed space exists in Hawaii's correctional facilities.

• Limits the number of Hawaii inmates that may be detained in out-of-state prisons to a maximum of 500 at any one time, effective December 31, 2019.

• Requires the Department of Public Safety to plan, design, and construct sufficient facilities to house all prisoners in Hawaii and to develop alternative programs such as electronic monitoring for returning inmates.

• Repeals Sections 353-16.2 and 353-16.3 of Hawaii Revised Statutes, which previously authorized transfers of inmates to out-of-state institutions and negotiation of out-of-state correctional facilities.

• Authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds for fiscal year 2018-2019 to fund the planning, design, and construction of sufficient correctional facilities in Hawaii.