STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1125-20

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2020

RE: S.B. No. 2345

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Human Services & Homelessness and Public Safety, Veterans, & Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2345, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CHILDREN AND FAMILY OF INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Require the Department of Human Services to continue to lead a working group to address visitation and support needs of children and families of incarcerated individuals; and

(2) Require the Department of Human Services, in cooperation with the Department of Public Safety and other stakeholders, to establish a pilot visitation and family resource center at Waiawa Correctional Facility.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Human Services, Office of Youth Services, Adult Friends for Youth, Early Childhood Action Strategy, Community Alliance on Prisons, Blueprint for Change, Hawaii Children's Action Network Speaks!, American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii, and four individuals. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Public Safety and Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

Your Committees find that through the efforts of the Departments of Human Services and Public Safety, Keiki Caucus's Family Reunification Working Group, and other community stakeholders, that working models of family visitation centers on prison grounds of other jurisdictions could be emulated to ensure the well-being of children of incarcerated parents and their families. In examining these visitation centers, the stakeholders have found that the centers strengthen family bonds while promoting the best interests of the children. To facilitate these goals in the State, your Committees believe that it is in the best interest of the State's children to establish a pilot visitation and family resource center at the Waiawa Correctional Facility.

Your Committees have amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

Your Committees note that the Department of Human Services indicated in testimony before your Committees that $150,000 is the funding amount necessary to establish and operate the pilot visitation and family resource center at Waiawa Correctional Center on Oahu. Should your Committee on Finance decide to hear this measure, your Committees respectfully request that it consider appropriating this amount.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services & Homelessness and Public Safety, Veterans, & Military Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2345, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2345, 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 Human Services & Homelessness and Public Safety, Veterans, & Military Affairs,

____________________________ GREGG TAKAYAMA, Chair

____________________________ JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair