HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1779
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to incarcerated women.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that in August 2021, the governor awarded over $8,000,000 to schools, colleges, and other entities as part of the governor's emergency education relief. Funding for the awards was provided by the federal Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act.

The legislature further finds that, among the awardees, the Hawaii Friends for Restorative Justice received $250,000 for the first year of an education program for imprisoned women. The program involves the Hawaii Friends for Restorative Justice partnering with the women's community correctional center, windward community college, the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and McKinley community school for adults to train incarcerated women to be general education development tutors for their peers, provide college correspondence courses for women in the women's community correctional center, and provide reentry and transition services for women who wish to continue their education post incarceration.

The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds for the second year of the education program for imprisoned women.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $250,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2022-2023 for the education program for imprisoned women, a program to train incarcerated women to be general education development tutors for their peers, provide college correspondence courses for women in the women's community correctional center, and provide reentry and transition services for women who wish to continue their education post incarceration.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of public safety for the purposes of this Act; provided that the department of public safety may transfer the moneys appropriated by this Act to the University of Hawaii or the department of education for purposes of this Act; provided further that the department of safety may award a grant to a private entity to achieve the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2022.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Women's Caucus; PSD; UH; DOE; Women's Prison Project; Education; Reentry; Transition Services; Incarcerated; Appropriation

Description:

Appropriates funds for the second year of a program to train incarcerated women to be general education development tutors for their peers, provide college correspondence courses for women in the women's community correctional center, and provide reentry and transition services for women wanting to continue their education post incarceration. Enables partnerships with the Department of Education, University of Hawaii, and Department of Public Safety. Appropriates moneys.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.