STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1863

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 451

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

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 H.B. No. 451, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to provide funding for the pilot visitation and family resource center at Waiawa Correctional Facility.

More specifically, this measure:

(1) Clarifies that certain appropriations made pursuant to Act 125, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022, for the establishment of the pilot visitation and family resource center at Waiawa Correctional Facility shall not lapse until June 30, 2024; and

(2) Appropriates moneys for the pilot visitation and family resource center at Waiawa Correctional Facility.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Public Safety, Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission, American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii, Blueprint for Change, Community Alliance on Prisons, Ekolu Mea Nui, Hawaii Children's Action Network Speaks!, Hawaii Ohana Support Network, Hawaii Youth Services Network, Papa Ola Lokahi, and numerous individuals.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services.

Your Committee finds that providing funding for the pilot visitation and family resource center at Waiawa Correctional Facility will support the rehabilitation of affected inmates.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the appropriations in Act 125, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022, from $305,000 and $115,000, respectively, to unspecified amounts to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

(2) Making a technical nonsubstantive amendment to insert Ramseyer language appropriate to the foregoing amendment.

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 H.B. No. 451, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 451, H.D. 1, S.D. 1.

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

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair