STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1196-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: S.B. No. 2094

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Corrections, Military, & Veterans and Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2094, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CORRECTIONS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require and appropriate funds for the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to establish a one-year pilot program to allow inmates incarcerated at the Women's Community Correctional Center to foster pets while incarcerated.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation; Office of the Public Defender; ACLU of Hawaiʻi; Animal Welfare Institute; Hawaiian Humane Society; and five individuals. Your Committees received comments on this measure from United Public Workers, AFSCME Local 646, AFL-CIO.

Your Committees find that pet programs that allow incarcerated persons to foster animals can increase the emotional intelligence, coping skills, work ethic, and employability of incarcerated persons. Your Committees further find that pet programs can help alleviate staffing issues and reduce the administrative burden in the State's animal shelters. This measure establishes a one-year pilot program to allow inmates at the Women's Community Correctional Center to foster pets while incarcerated.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

Your Committees note that while the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation has expressed that it does not require an appropriation to implement the pilot program at this time, your Committees respectfully request your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider an appropriation amount of $50,000, should it deem an appropriation appropriate.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Corrections, Military, & Veterans and Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2094, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2094, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Corrections, Military, & Veterans and Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________ DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair

____________________________ MARK J. HASHEM, Chair