STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2083

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2637

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2637 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

(1) Mandate that there be a community-based work furlough program for all incarcerated women in the State; and

(2) Appropriate funds to the Department of Public Safety to extend the contract for community-based work furlough for women and ensure that it is not only continued but expanded to all incarcerated women.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawai‘i Correctional System Oversight Commission, Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition, Common Cause Hawaii, Community Alliance on Prisons, and seven individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Public Safety and the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee finds that community-based work furlough programs provide benefits for incarcerated women. Offenders who work for private companies while imprisoned obtain employment more quickly, maintain employment longer, and have lower recidivism rates than those who work in traditional correctional industries or are involved in other-than-work activities. Community-based work furlough programs also provide preparation for handling responsibility outside of the correctional facility, practical and functional life skills training, and general technical skills knowledge. Your Committee believes that community-based work furlough programs benefit inmates and the community. This measure will allow the State to reduce recidivism by mandating a community-based work furlough program for all incarcerated women and appropriating funds for the Department of Public Safety to extend the contract for existing community-based work furlough programs.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2637 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs,

________________________________

CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair