Bill Text: HI SB2630 | 2016 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Corrections; Committed Persons; Sale of Crafts; Correctional Industries Program; Reentry Academy for Training and Entrepreneurial Resources; RAFTER; Study; Appropriation ($)

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Passed) 2016-07-08 - Act 227, 07/07/2016 (Gov. Msg. No. 1329). [SB2630 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2016-SB2630-Amended.html

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THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2630
TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2016		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII		H.D. 1
		C.D. 1

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

 

 

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

 

PART I

     SECTION 1.  Section 354D-4, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§354D-4  Powers and duties of the director.  Under the supervision of the director or the director's designee, the administrator of the correctional industries program shall:

     (1)  Develop programs generating revenue that best sustains their operation and allows for capital investment, and reimburses the general fund, when possible, for the expense of correctional services;

     (2)  Develop programs providing the maximum level of work and training opportunities for qualified, able-bodied inmates;

     (3)  Develop programs assuming responsibility for training qualified, [able-bodied] appropriately screened inmates in [general work] applicable work and specific training skills that increase their employment prospects after release;

     (4)  Develop programs in which inmates can learn skills used in the construction and other industries, while providing low-cost construction, renovation, and repairs of facilities, grounds, furniture, vehicles, and equipment for private, nonprofit social services, health, or education agencies and programs;

     (5)  Acquire or purchase equipment, materials, supplies, office space, insurance, and services necessary to establish and maintain programs pursuant to this chapter;

     (6)  [Use labor services] Conduct industries or enterprises for the employment of qualified, able-bodied inmates in the manufacture or production of [goods] articles and products deemed appropriate for sale by the director and the provision of services for sale to the public or that [are] may be needed for the construction, operation, [or] maintenance, or use of any office, department, institution, or agency supported in whole or in part by [the State, the counties,] a state and its political subdivisions or the federal government;

    [(7)  Sell all goods and services to the State, the counties, or the federal government;

     (8)] (7)  Sell uniforms and uniform accessories to state-employed adult corrections officers;

    [(9)] (8)  Purchase, lease, trade, exchange, acquire, and maintain personal property; and

  [(10)] (9)  Accept grants or loans from the State, the counties, or the federal government."

     SECTION 2.  Section 354D-15, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is repealed.

     ["[§354D-15]  Sale of goods.  It shall be unlawful to sell, or offer for sale, on the open market of this State, any articles or products manufactured or produced, wholly or in part, under this chapter.  Goods or services produced by venture agreements under section 354D-13 shall be exempt from this limitation."]

PART II

     SECTION 3.  The legislature finds that Hawaii's prison system houses many more inmates than it was designed to accommodate and may be in danger of violating federal standards, although there have been continual discussions about building new prison facilities that would be completed in five to ten years.  One reason the prison system is overburdened is that 49.6 per cent of convicted felons return to prison within one year after their release.

     The reentry of former inmates into society has often been difficult because:

     (1)  Training they received while incarcerated has become obsolete and is no longer economically relevant;

     (2)  They acquired negative habits in prison and are not motivated to seek lawful employment; and

     (3)  They lack the necessary skills and training to secure meaningful employment that provides adequate pay and is conducive to a more normal lifestyle.

     In order to reduce recidivism, several states have established programs that include training and mentoring to give inmates an opportunity to learn professional, vocational, and entrepreneurial skills that will facilitate their reentry into society.

     The purpose of this part is to require the department of business, economic development, and tourism to conduct a study of the feasibility of establishing a training and mentoring program for qualified prison inmates that will provide the tools they need to find meaningful employment upon release and thereby decrease the burden of recidivism and incarceration on taxpayers and the State.

     SECTION 4.  The department of business, economic development, and tourism's Hawaii community-based economic development technical and financial assistance program shall conduct a study to determine the feasibility of establishing a training and mentoring program for qualified prison inmates, to be called the reentry academy for training and entrepreneurial resources (RAFTER), to facilitate their reentry into society.

     In conducting the study, the department shall cooperate with the visitor and resort industries, labor unions, the construction industry, community colleges, and the University of Hawaii, to identify the kinds of training and mentoring required to succeed in various professions, industries, vocations, and trades.  The department shall also develop a component to offer inmates training in life skills such as personal hygiene and grooming, dressing for success, exercise, healthy diets, time management, dealing with family relationships, responsible finances, and basic reading, writing, and arithmetic skills.

     The department shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2017.

     The report shall be reviewed by the reentry commission and the house and senate standing committees with jurisdiction over public safety.

     SECTION 5. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $150,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2016-2017 to carry out the purposes of this Act.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of business, economic development, and tourism for the purposes of this Act.

PART III

     SECTION 6.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 7.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval; provided that section 5 shall take effect on July 1, 2016.

Report Title:

Corrections; Committed Persons; Sale of Crafts; Correctional Industries Program; Reentry Academy for Training and Entrepreneurial Resources; RAFTER; Study; Appropriation

 

Description:

Authorizes Hawaii Correctional Industries to sell inmate-made products and services on the open market to the general public.  Repeals the prohibition of the sale of such products on the open market.  Requires Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to conduct a feasibility study on establishing a reentry academy for training and entrepreneurial resources (RAFTER).  Appropriates funds.  (CD1)

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.