STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1060

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 712

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 712, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CORRECTIONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to improve the quality of interaction between incarcerated persons who have experienced trauma and adult corrections officers.

More specifically, the measure appropriates funds to Windward Community College to support a level I trauma-informed certification program for adult corrections officers, at no cost to the adult corrections officers.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Judiciary, Department of Public Safety, Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission, Department of Health, Office of Wellness and Resilience of the Office of the Governor, University of Hawaii, United Public Workers, Hawaii Friends of Restorative Justice, University of Hawaii Professional Assembly, Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition, and three individuals.

Your Committee finds that this measure's funding of a trauma-informed certification program for adult corrections officers will ensure that officers have the necessary skills to properly assess and interact with the significant proportion of inmates who have experienced trauma, and thus increase the likelihood that these inmates will connect with vital services, be less likely to commit disciplinary infractions, and experience improved rehabilitation and less recidivism.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the appropriation from $100,000 to an unspecified amount;

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 712, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 712, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair