Requesting The Federal Government To Provide Supplemental Funding To Increase Compensation For Adult Corrections Officers Employed By The State Of Hawaii's Department Of Corrections And Rehabilitation.
Summary
SCR147 is a Senate Concurrent Resolution requesting that the federal government provide supplemental funding to Hawaii for the purpose of increasing compensation for adult corrections officers employed by the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. The resolution frames the request as a response to persistent staffing shortages, high vacancy and attrition rates, mandatory overtime, workplace violence, and the difficulty of recruiting and retaining officers in a high-cost state.
The resolution asks that any federal assistance be structured to support both recruitment and long-term retention, including base pay increases, differential pay, and other compensation tools. It does not itself change state law or appropriate state funds; instead, it is a formal legislative appeal to federal officials and Hawaii’s congressional delegation to secure outside funding for correctional staffing needs.
Impact
SCR147 has no direct effect on Hawaii statutes or agency authority because it is a concurrent resolution rather than a bill creating or amending law. Its practical impact would be indirect: if successful, it could bring federal dollars to support higher pay and retention incentives for adult corrections officers, potentially easing vacancy rates and improving staffing stability within the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. The resolution also signals legislative support for correctional workforce funding as a public safety priority.
Sentiment
The available voting history suggests clear support for the measure. It passed the Senate Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs committee 5-0 and was reported out unamended. The resolution’s findings are strongly sympathetic to corrections officers and emphasize safety, staffing, and retention concerns, indicating a generally favorable sentiment toward seeking federal help for compensation.
Contention
There is little evidence of substantive opposition in the available record, and no committee transcript is provided showing debate. The main policy issue embedded in the resolution is whether federal funding should be used to address what is presented as a state workforce and compensation problem, rather than relying solely on state resources. The resolution also implicitly raises questions about the adequacy of recruitment-only strategies, the role of pay in retention, and how to balance correctional staffing needs with broader fiscal priorities.
Same As
Requesting The Federal Government To Provide Supplemental Funding To Increase Compensation For Adult Corrections Officers Employed By The State Of Hawaii's Department Of Corrections And Rehabilitation.
Requesting The Department Of Corrections And Rehabilitation To Incrementally And Systematically Reduce The Number Of Inmates Incarcerated In Private, Out-of-state Correctional Facilities.
Requesting The Department Of Corrections And Rehabilitation To Incrementally And Systematically Reduce The Number Of Inmates Incarcerated In Private, Out-of-state Correctional Facilities.
Requesting The Department Of Corrections And Rehabilitation To Incrementally And Systematically Reduce The Number Of Inmates Incarcerated In Private, Out-of-state Correctional Facilities.
Requesting The Department Of Corrections And Rehabilitation To Incrementally And Systematically Reduce The Number Of Inmates Incarcerated In Private, Out-of-state Correctional Facilities.
Requesting The Department Of Corrections And Rehabilitation To Make Available To Correctional Facility Staff Members Throughout The State Clinical Counseling Services That Are Separate And Distinct From The Existing Mental Health Resources Available To Inmates.
Requesting The Department Of Corrections And Rehabilitation To Comprehensively Reevaluate Its Policies Regarding In-person Contact Visitation At Correctional Facilities Throughout The State To Best Support Incarcerated Persons In Staying Connected With Loved Ones Who Can Help Them On Their Journey Of Rehabilitation.
Requesting The Department Of Corrections And Rehabilitation To Collaborate With The Department Of Transportation To Use Inmate Work Furlough Programs For State Roadway And Highway Maintenance.
Requesting The Department Of Corrections And Rehabilitation To Make Available To Correctional Facility Staff Members Throughout The State Clinical Counseling Services That Are Separate And Distinct From The Existing Mental Health Resources Available To Inmates.
Requesting The Department Of Corrections And Rehabilitation To Collaborate With The Department Of Transportation To Use Inmate Work Furlough Programs For State Roadway And Highway Maintenance.
Requesting The Department Of Corrections And Rehabilitation, In Planning And Designing The New Oahu Community Correctional Center In Halawa, To Include Circuit And District Court Facilities And Establish A Release Procedure Under Which Detainees Or Inmates, Upon Release, Are Transported To A Site Other Than Residential Communities Or Public Spaces.