STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1330

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: S.B. No. 712

S.D. 2

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 Corrections, Military & Veterans, to which was referred S.B. No. 712, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CORRECTIONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to the University of Hawaii Windward Community College to support a level I trauma-informed certification program for adult corrections officers in the State.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Wellness and Resilience of the Office of the Governor; Judiciary; University of Hawai‘i System; Department of Public Safety; Department of Health; Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission; State Council on Mental Health; United Public Workers, AFSCME Local 646, AFL-CIO; Women's Prison Project; Hawai‘i Friends of Restorative Justice; Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition; Opportunity Youth Action Hawai‘i; University of Hawaii Professional Assembly; Hawai‘i Psychological Association; and three individuals.

Your Committee finds that training in trauma-informed care for corrections professionals allows them to better connect with incarcerated individuals who have experienced trauma, which often results in improved rehabilitation outcomes and reduced recidivism rates. Therefore, this measure supports the establishment of a level I trauma-informed certification program to help corrections professionals identify and recognize the signs and symptoms of trauma.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(2) 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 an appropriation amount of $100,000.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Corrections, Military & Veterans that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 712, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 712, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Corrections, Military & Veterans,

____________________________

MARK J. HASHEM, Chair