STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1352-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.B. No. 3293

S.D. 2

H.D. 2

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 S.B. No. 3293, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, 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:

(1) Establish a five-year Recidivism Prevention Pilot Program within the Judiciary consisting of a housing voucher program, child care voucher program, and income tax credit for employment of program participants to assist the reentry efforts of certain individuals who exited the Women's Community Correctional Center; and

(2) Appropriate funds for:

(A) The implementation and operation of the Recidivism Prevention Pilot Program; and

(B) The establishment of five full-time equivalent permanent transition navigator positions within the Judiciary to provide assistance to individuals exiting the Women's Community Correctional Center in successfully rejoining their families and the community.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition, Women's Prison Project, and four individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Judiciary. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Taxation, Department of Budget and Finance, and Department of Public Safety.

Your Committee finds that providing temporary assistance to women leaving the Women's Community Correctional Center and incentivizing employers to hire these women will improve their outcomes and provide needed stability as they reenter society.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Amending the requirements for the income tax credit under the Recidivism Prevention Pilot Program; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

Your Committee believes that the Recidivism Prevention Pilot Program should be established within the Department of Human Services as it is the more appropriate agency to carry out the Program's objectives.

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 S.B. No. 3293, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3293, S.D. 2, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

MARK M. NAKASHIMA, Chair