STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2793

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2309

       S.D. 2

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2309, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC SAFETY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to authorize the issuance of general obligation bonds and appropriate funds for the Department of Public Safety to establish and implement a residential reentry facility and day reporting program for criminal offenders, including offenders in the work furlough program.  

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from one individual.  The Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu submitted written comments on the measure. 

     Your Committee finds that residential reentry programs are viable alternatives to imprisonment when they are appropriately designed and administered.  Reentry programs help offenders effectively transition back into society and ultimately reduce the recidivism rate.  Your Committee further finds that establishing a residential reentry facility will help offenders access needed social services, learn valuable job skills, participate in various educational, mental, and physical fitness programs, and prepare to reengage with the community.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1)  Changing the appropriation from $100,000 to an unspecified amount;

(2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

(3)  Making technical nonsubstantive changes for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2309, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2309, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair