STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3866

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2421

H.D. 1

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 2421, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WOMEN'S COURT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish and appropriate moneys for a three-year women's court pilot program within the Judiciary's First Circuit.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Judiciary, Department of Health, Department of the Prosecuting Attorney for the City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii State Bar Association, Women's Prison Project, and two individuals.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee finds that the pilot program supported by this measure will help improve outcomes and decrease the risk of re-imprisonment for incarcerated women by providing them with mental health services, substance abuse treatment, trauma-informed care, and educational opportunities.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the appropriation amount from $695,236 to an unspecified sum;

(2) Changing the amounts allocated for each position within the pilot program to unspecified sums; and

(3) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure.

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 H.B. No. 2421, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2421, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.

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

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair