STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2200

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2094

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2094 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CORRECTIONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to establish a two-year pilot program to allow inmates incarcerated at the women's community correctional center to foster pets while incarcerated.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Hawaiian Humane Society, ACLU of Hawaiʻi, Women's Prison Project, Pono Advocacy, and five individuals.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the United Public Workers Hawaii, AFSCME Local 646, AFL-CIO.

Your Committee finds that the Hawaiian Humane Society is unable to meet the needs of their animals due to the amount of animals at their shelters. Your Committee notes that there is significant data showing that the fostering of pets by incarcerated persons can have potential positive outcomes including improved personal responsibility, work ethic, and self-esteem. This measure will assist the Hawaiian Humane Society in reducing strain on their shelters and hopefully reduce recidivism rates for incarcerated women by allowing them to foster pets while incarcerated.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Converting the pilot program from two years to one year;

(2) Inserting an unspecified appropriation amount;

(3) Inserting an effective date of January 1, 2042, to encourage further discussion;

(4) Amending section 1 to reflect its amended purpose; and

(5) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

Your Committee notes that the Senate Draft 1 of this measure contains an unspecified appropriation amount. Should your Committee on Ways and Means choose to deliberate on this measure, your Committee respectfully requests that it considers inserting an appropriation amount of $50,000 for fiscal year 2024-2025.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2094, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2094, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs,

________________________________

GLENN WAKAI, Chair