STAND.
COM. REP. NO. 1121-22
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2022
RE: S.B. No. 3293
S.D. 2
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 Corrections, Military, & Veterans, to which was referred S.B. No. 3293, S.D. 2, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ASSISTANCE FOR PERSONS COMPLETING A TERM OF IMPRISONMENT,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to establish a pilot program to provide:
(1) Housing and child care vouchers for a period of up to two years to persons leaving incarceration, provided that certain eligibility requirements are met; and
(2) An income tax credit for taxpayers who employ qualified program participants to incentivize employers to hire persons leaving incarceration to assist in the rehabilitation process.
Your Committee finds that more resources are needed to support inmates exiting the State's correctional facilities. Your Committee believes that one form of assistance that can provide a foundation for reentry is housing and child care support in the form of vouchers to qualifying applicants based upon financial need and contingent upon the applicant working or participating in programs relating to education, substance abuse, or parenting for a specified minimum number of hours per week. Your Committee further finds that establishing an income tax credit for employers who hire program participants is an appropriate incentive to foster the gainful employment of exiting inmates. Your Committee also finds that collectively, the vouchers and tax incentive can help to achieve a smoother transition from the confines of the correctional facility and reduce recidivism.
Your Committee has amended this measure by deleting its contents and inserting the contents of H.B. No. 2310, H.D. 1, a measure that similarly proposed the creation of a pilot program providing child care and housing vouchers for recently incarcerated persons and an employer income tax credit, previously passed by your Committee, except that it:
(1) Places the pilot program, which is to last for five years, within the Judiciary instead of the Department of Human Services;
(2) Applies to individuals exiting the Women's Community Correctional Center only;
(3) Establishes an aggregate monetary amount of vouchers provided to program participants by the State not to exceed $30,000 for each fiscal year;
(4) Provides for the establishment of five full-time equivalent permanent transition navigator positions within the Judiciary; and
(5) Takes effect on July 1, 3000.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Corrections, Military, & Veterans that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3293, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3293, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Corrections, Military, & Veterans,
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____________________________ TAKASHI OHNO, Chair |
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