Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 2132, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the provision of gender-responsive community-based programs for female offenders and adjudicated youth.

The measure also: specifies program criteria to meet the needs of female offenders and adjudicated youth; provides for grants-in-aid to assist private agencies that have existing programs for females and to encourage private agencies to develop and implement new programs; and appropriates funds.

Your Committee recognizes that correctional programs and services originally were created for a male dominant population. Accordingly, your Committee finds that it is necessary to modify programs to better reflect the needs of females, including the identification of issues of importance to females, such as childhood abuse, early onset of alcohol and drug abuse, poverty and homelessness, lack of job skills and employment, health problems and needs, and single motherhood.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive changes for purposes of clarity and consistency.

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 H.B. No. 2132, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2132, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.