STAND. COM. REP. NO. 750

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 71

       S.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 71, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR PUBLIC SAFETY PROGRAMS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to support organizations that provide rehabilitative and re-entry programs and services to incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals.

 

     More specifically, this measure appropriates funds to the Department of Public Safety to contract with community-based organizations, in accordance with chapter 103F, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to provide education, mentoring, restorative circles, farming, artisan skills, cognitive behavioral therapy, and cultural healing services to current and former inmates under the custody and control of the Department of Public Safety or the Hawaii Paroling Authority.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Community Alliance on Prisons and one individual.

 

     Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Public Safety.

 

     Your Committee finds that this measure supports organizations that encourage rehabilitation and educate incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals.  Studies have shown that rehabilitation and re-entry programs for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals lower recidivism rates, thereby making the community safer.  Your Committee also finds that this measure provides a reasonable and cost-effective method to provide these services to the target population.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

(1)  Changing the appropriation to an unspecified amount; and

 

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

 

     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. 71, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 71, S.D. 2.

 

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

 

		____________________________ DAVID Y. IGE, Chair