STAND. COM. REP. NO. 131

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 877

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Higher Education & Technology, to which was referred H.B. No. 877 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish and appropriate funds for an institute to be located within the William S. Richardson School of Law to be known as the Hookaulike: A Criminal Legal System Institute for Restoration and Healing.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawai‘i System, Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission, Hawai‘i Health & Harm Reduction Center, and eight individuals.

Your Committee finds that Hookaulike, which means to create equity, assumes that people who do not share standards of living that are similar to one another nevertheless are capable of designing and implementing standards of behavior within their communities that allow their members to live in dignity and peace. This institute, housed within the William S. Richardson School of Law, but developed in partnership with the School of Hawaiian Knowledge and the Thompson School of Social Work, is envisioned as an advocate for better social services and a vehicle to deal more personally with marginalized community members.

Your Committee further finds that the Institute's mandate is to assist vulnerable communities to help in the design and advocacy of inclusive and fair criminal legal systems aimed at restoration and healing. This measure establishes one approach to addressing the disparate challenges facing Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islander communities, and people of color in the criminal legal system.

Your Committee notes that it discussed whether the William S. Richardson School of Law was the optimal arm of the University within which to house the Institute or whether the Thompson School of Social Work might be a more appropriate fit. Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, should it deliberate on this measure, to vet this issue.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the appropriations to unspecified amounts;

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

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

Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider a total appropriation amount of $975,000 for twelve positions and operational funds, as follows: $200,000 for the J-Faculty line; $85,000 for the faculty researcher; $85,000 for the instructional faculty; $85,000 for the faculty specialist; $85,000 for the communications coordinator; $80,000 for the APT – B level budget line; $55,000 for the APT – A clerical; $150,000 for five graduate research assistant positions; and $150,000 in operational funds.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education & Technology that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 877, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 877, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Higher Education & Technology,

____________________________

AMY A. PERRUSO, Chair