[§353H-7]  Return of out-of-state inmates.  (a) The director of public safety shall return Hawaii inmates held inout-of-state prisons at least one year prior to the inmate's parole or releasedate in order for these inmates to participate in programs preparing them forreentry on the island where they have the most support; provided that inmatesparticipating in reentry programs at the mainland facility in which they areincarcerated consent to the return.

(b)  The provisions of subsection (a) shall notprevent the return of other Hawaii inmates held in out-of-state prisons withless than one year left of their sentence from being returned in preparationfor reentry to the island where they have the most support.

(c)  The department of public safety shallprovide a report to the legislature at the end of each calendar year on anyinmates not returned pursuant to this section with an explanation of thereasoning and circumstances for noncompliance. [L Sp 2007, c 8, pt of §2]