Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 119, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill, as received by your Committee, is to require the Department of Public Safety (DPS) to provide a range and quality of programming for female adult and juvenile offenders that are substantially equivalent to male inmates.

DPS, the Office of Youth Services, the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, the American Civil Liberties Union, Hawaii Youth Services Network, the Women's Legislative Coalition, and numerous concerned individuals testified in support of this measure.

Your Committee finds that although much effort is being expended to improve services for female offenders, it is appropriate that the Legislature make a strong statement to support, reinforce, and perpetuate the good work underway.

Further, your Committee finds that there is a need for expanded community based gender-responsive programming for female adjudicated youths. This programming would provide many benefits to the participants, the community at-large, and public safety.

Upon further consideration, your Committee has amended this measure by deleting its contents and:

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 119, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 119, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.