STAND. COM. REP. NO. 369-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 1735

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Corrections, Military, & Veterans, to which was referred H.B. No. 1735 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO OFFENDER REENTRY PROGRAMS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to expand programming and training for the Comprehensive Offender Reentry Program under the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation; Hawaii Paroling Authority; Office of the Public Defender; Hawaii Federation of Republican Women; Institute of Human Services; Hawaiʻi Friends of Restorative Justice; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that the State has high rates of recidivism, with fifty-four percent of offenders committing repeat offenses. Your Committee further finds that offering educational and vocational programs to offenders reduces rates of recidivism. This measure addresses this need by requiring the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to develop additional educational and vocational programs designed to reduce recidivism and promote successful reentry into the community within the Comprehensive Offender Reentry Program.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

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

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

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 H.B. No. 1735, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1735, 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