HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	67
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE PU‘UHONUA PROGRAM.

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that Windward community college offers college courses for credit to incarcerated individuals through the pu‘uhonua "places of sanctuary" program. The legislature also finds that Windward community college is the only University of Hawaii institution that currently serves incarcerated populations with educational opportunities and education credits leading to degrees and certificates. Windward community college has been working with the women's community correctional center and Hawai‘i youth correctional facility since 2017 and started offering courses at Halawa correctional facility in fall 2022.

According to Windward community college, the average grade point average of students in the pu‘uhonua program is 3.6 on a 4.0 grade point average scale. Eighty-five per cent of the students receive an A, B, or C in their classes. To date, all students in the pu‘uhonua program have been the first in their families to attend college, and forty-three per cent are Native Hawaiian and nine per cent are Pacific Islander. Windward community college indicates that students in the pu‘uhonua program are much less likely to be reincarcerated after release.

Additionally, Windward community college is the only University of Hawaii institution that has implemented the Second Chance Pell. Through the Second Chance Pell, pu‘uhonua program students receive financial aid, thereby making it possible for windward community college to provide coursework and for students to become familiar with applying for financial aid, which is critical for college opportunities.

The legislature also finds that Windward community college has provided education in the pu‘uhonua program through grant funds; however, the grant funds will expire in June 2023 and September 2023, at which time Windward community college will have no one to coordinate the coursework that leads to associate degrees in liberal arts and Hawaiian studies, as well as certificates in business and psychosocial development. Windward community college currently has only one coordinator and three staff, one at each facility, for the pu‘uhonua program. The legislature finds that funding is necessary to provide incarcerated community members and at-promise youth the opportunity to grow through higher education opportunities and lower the recidivism rate in the State.

The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds for three full-time equivalent (3.0 FTE) positions for Windward community college's pu‘uhonua program.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $211,000 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 the Windward community college pu‘uhonua program, as follows:

(1) $68,000 for one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) women's community correctional center counselor position;

(2) $68,000 for one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) Hālawa correctional facility counselor position; and

(3) $75,000 for one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) incarcerated education coordinator position to be responsible for the day-to-day support of the Hawaii youth correctional facility, including student counseling and instructional support.

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

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2023.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

UH; Windward Community College; Pu‘uhonua Program; Women's Community Correctional Center; Hawaii Youth Correctional Facility; Halawa Correctional Facility; Appropriation

Description:

Appropriates funds for three full-time equivalent positions for Windward community college's Pu‘uhonua program.

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