HB 824 Summary

• Creates a medical release program allowing the Hawaii Department of Corrections to refer eligible inmates to the Hawaii Paroling Authority for early release based on medical conditions.

• Establishes four criteria for medical release eligibility: terminal illness with poor prognosis, seriously debilitating irreversible mental or physical conditions, cognitive impairment preventing awareness of punishment, or medical conditions requiring care the department cannot provide long-term.

• Allows medical release requests to be initiated by the director, inmate, or inmate's representative, with the director having twenty days to forward requests to the Hawaii Paroling Authority with a recommendation.

• Requires the Hawaii Paroling Authority to conduct a hearing within ten days of receiving a medical release request and make a decision within two days of the hearing; conditions the release on supervision and compliance through the sentence expiration date.

• Permits revocation of medical release if the inmate violates release conditions, with credit given only for time served in compliance; medical release denial does not affect eligibility for other parole or release options.