STAND. COM. REP. NO. 649-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 2312

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 2312, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PRISON REFORM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Statutorily establish within the Judiciary the Women's Corrections Implementation Commission to:

(A) Develop and implement an evidence-based, gender-responsive plan to divert non-violent women offenders from the criminal justice system;

(B) Ensure implementation of the recommendations from the final report of the Task Force on Prison Reform, formed pursuant to House Concurrent Resolution No. 85, Regular Session of 2016;

(C) Review existing local resources and programs focused on women in the justice system for their effectiveness and expansion; and

(D) Consider model programs; and

(2) Appropriate funds for the establishment of the Women's Corrections Implementation Commission.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Judiciary, Women's Prison Project, and Hawai‘i Health & Harm Reduction Center. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance, Department of Public Safety, and Hawai‘i State Commission on the Status of Women.

Your Committee finds that Hawaii's correctional system can benefit from the establishment of a Women's Corrections Implementation Commission to direct and oversee the changes needed to develop a more effective and gender-responsive system. This measure also ensures the implementation of recommendations from the Task Force on Prison Reform, formed pursuant to House Concurrent Resolution No. 85, Regular Session of 2016, which were made available in the final report to the Legislature during the Regular Session of 2019.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2312, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

MARK M. NAKASHIMA, Chair