THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	3126
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2020
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

Relating to prisons.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that Hawaii's prison system houses many more inmates than it was designed to accommodate. Hawaii has a population of approximately five thousand six hundred inmates, costing the State about $52,000 per inmate per year. One reason the prison system is overburdened is that 49.6 per cent of convicted felons return to prison within one year of their release. However, forty-three per cent of people who seek and attain education in prison are less likely to return. Reducing recidivism by ten inmates would save the State about $520,000 annually.

The legislature further finds that in order to reduce recidivism, several states have established programs that include training and mentoring to give inmates an opportunity to learn entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and business skills that will facilitate their reentry into society. The Darden School of Business and the University of Virginia has partnered with the Dillwyn Correctional Center to teach eligible and willing inmate students business skills to reduce recidivism. Recidivism rates in Virginia are currently about twenty-three per cent while the rate is seventy per cent nationally. Similar programs have been established in other states such as the District of Columbia through the Georgetown University McDonough School of Business and New York through Columbia Business School. An initial investment in this program has potential for enormous cost savings for the State.

The purpose of this Act is to establish a four-year pilot program in Hawaii to reduce recidivism by providing inmates with the skills necessary to succeed in the workforce and appropriate funds for the program. This education program will focus on business, financial, and entrepreneurial education to set a foundation for individuals in prison to succeed after release. This program can be scalable, beginning with a pilot cohort of individuals with potential to expand.

SECTION 2. (a) There is created within the department of public safety a working group to contract with an educational institution to establish a business, entrepreneurial, and financial literacy program focused on giving incarcerated students access to quality business education.

(b) The department of public safety shall coordinate with an accredited institution of higher education to work with a program designed to reduce recidivism by providing educational opportunities to provide inmates with programs developed to reduce recidivism by teaching inmates business and entrepreneurial skills.

(c) The pilot program shall cease to exist on June 30, 2024.

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $400,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2020-2021 for the pilot program established pursuant to this Act.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of public safety for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2020.

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

Department of Public Safety; Prisons; Recidivism; Pilot Program; Appropriation

Description:

Establishes a four-year pilot program to reduce recidivism through educational programs and initiatives. Appropriates funds.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.