STAND. COM. REP. NO. 703

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 710

S.D. 2

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 S.B. No. 710, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to provide educational opportunities to incarcerated women to improve their post-release prospects.

More specifically, the measure:

(1) Requires the McKinley Community School for Adults to work with Hawaii Friends of Restorative Justice to provide counseling services for incarcerated women participating in the education and reentry program for incarcerated women that is developed and administered by Hawaii Friends of Restorative Justice; and

(2)  Appropriates moneys for the education and reentry program.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Education, Department of Public Safety, University of Hawaii, Hawaii Friends of Restorative Justice, The Women's Prison Project, and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that providing funding to continue this successful program, which has helped incarcerated women achieve their educational goals and increase their passage rates for the General Educational Development test, will have positive impacts on incarcerated women and help to lower recidivism rates in the State.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the appropriation from $225,000 to an unspecified amount;

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

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

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 S.B. No. 710, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 710, S.D. 2.

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

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair