Senate paves way for privately built Big Island prison
By Scott Ishikawa
Advertiser Capitol Bureau
The Senate Judiciary Committee yesterday passed a bill that would provide the framework for a privately built correctional facility on the Big Island.
An amended version of House Bill 771 would allow the state to appropriate money for an environmental impact statement for a 600-bed treatment and rehabilitation center on the Big Island. A location was not named, but the measure specified that the 400 men and 200 women to be housed in the facility would have a minimum of one year remaining on their prison sentences.
The full Senate will vote on the measure next week to determine whether to send the bill back to the state House.
Judiciary Committee Chairman Brian Kanno said a private developer would be responsible in building the facility, with the state paying for the day-to-day operating costs.
State public safety director Ted Sakai could not be reached for comment yesterday on the measure.
While Gov. Cayetano said his administration would not pursue plans for the state to build a major prison, Sakai in February said the governor is open to the idea of privatization because the state could use money saved on prison costs for education and economic development.
Hawai'i County Mayor Harry Kim gave testimony at a February hearing that he opposes building a large institutional prison but would support a secured rehabilitation center on the Big Island. Kim believes that Hawai'i County could support a facility to house 300-400 inmates.
"This would be a much more manageable facility than the 2,300-bed prison previously proposed for the Big Island," said Kanno, D-20th ('Ewa Beach, Makakilo, Kapolei). "It would also be focused on medium-security prisoners, whom there is a shortage of bed space for right now in Hawai'i."
Still unresolved is how public unions would be able to compete for a contract to staff the correctional facility. Kanno said House and Senate leaders would have to work that out in conference committee near the end of the legislative session.
