HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

877

THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature believes that the State must create an inclusive and fair criminal legal system devoted to restoration and healing, particularly addressing the disparate challenges facing Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islander communities, and people of color in the criminal legal system.  These ongoing challenges include intergenerational poverty and trauma, insufficient support services, and inadequate housing and are reflected in their disparate levels of incarceration.  To address these issues of statewide concern, the State must rely on the University of Hawaii at Manoa and the research, community engagement, and teaching capacities of the William S. Richardson school of law, the Hawaiinuiakea school of Hawaiian knowledge, and the University of Hawaii community design center.

     The legislature finds that establishment of an institute for restoration and healing within the criminal legal system at the William S. Richardson school of law is a matter of statewide concern.

     The purpose of this Act 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.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 304A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part IV, subpart D, to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§304A-     Hookaulike:  a criminal legal system institute for restoration and healing; established.  (a)  There is established at the William S. Richardson school of law the hookaulike:  a criminal legal system institute for restoration and healing, to be under the direction of a director who shall be appointed by the dean of the school of law, with the approval of the board of regents.

     (b)  Subject to the availability of funds, faculty, and facilities, the institute shall assist vulnerable communities to help in the design and advocacy of inclusive and fair criminal legal systems aimed at restoration and healing, particularly the disparate challenges facing Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islander communities, and people of color in the criminal legal system.

     (c)  The institute may:

     (1)  Conduct and promote research, conferences, and studies to improve legal systems, laws, policies, methods, rules, procedures, and forms relating to federal, state, and county government;

     (2)  Report on and make recommendations regarding goals, guidelines, innovations, and evaluation of federal, state, and county government initiatives; and

     (3)  Create a conduit for regular reporting and consultation with state, county, nonprofit, and private agencies and organizations charged with evaluation of and policies regarding policing, prosecution, and corrections, including the judiciary's criminal justice research institute."

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2023-2024 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 for twelve permanent full-time equivalent (12.0 FTE) positions and funding for hookaulike:  a criminal legal system institute for restoration and healing, at the William S. Richardson school of law, as follows:

 

     (1)  $           for one permanent full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) J-Faculty line to be anchored in the William S. Richardson school of law and shared with the Hawaiinuiakea school of Hawaiian knowledge to serve as director;

     (2)  $           for one permanent full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) faculty researcher (R) faculty to be located in the Hawaiinuiakea school of Hawaiian knowledge, fluent in Hawaiian, and able to provide historical data and analysis regarding Hawaiian traditional and kingdom penal law to support hookaulike curriculum development and programming;

     (3)  $           for one permanent full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) instructional (I) faculty in the Thompson school of social work and public health for designing curriculum and conducting research on community and cultural alternatives to criminal prosecution and incarceration;

     (4)  $           for one permanent full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) faculty specialist for community outreach and advocacy;

     (5)  $           for one permanent full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) communications coordinator, versed in interactive data analysis and visualization, the collecting and cataloging of data and information, public interest design, educational outreach, and advocacy;

     (6)  $           for one permanent full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) APT - B level budget line to support the director, advance the mission of the institute, and assist with outreach and support of the institute's advocacy initiatives;

     (7)  $           for one permanent full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) APT - A clerical;

     (8)  $           for five permanent full-time equivalent (5.0 FTE) graduate research assistant positions for students from the William S. Richardson school of law, the Hawaiinuiakea school of Hawaiian knowledge, and the community design center to support the mission and work of the institute; and

     (9)  $           in operational funds to support the work of the institute through regular events, symposia, white papers, technology, or consultations devoted to connecting the work of other social justice leaders to improve the criminal legal system, from police or security contact, through sentencing and incarceration.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the university of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.

 


 


 

Report Title:

UH; Law School; Hawaiinuiakea School of Hawaiian Knowledge; Prison Reform; Hookaulike; Appropriations

 

Description:

Establishes the Hookaulike:  A Criminal Legal System Institute for Restoration and Healing, at the University of Hawaii William S. Richardson school of law.  Appropriates funds.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD1)

 

 

 

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