STAND. COM. REP. NO. 888-04
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2004
RE: S.B. No. 2349
S.D. 2
H.D. 1
Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twenty-Second State Legislature
Regular Session of 2004
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Human Services and Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 2349, S.D. 2, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SOCIAL SERVICES,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this bill is to help strengthen relationships between children and their incarcerated parents by:
(1) Establishing a Child-friendly Visitation Center Task Force (Task Force) to develop a pilot project to facilitate the development of appropriate child visitation of incarcerated parents;
(2) Authorizing the issuance of general obligation bonds for the design and construction of a Child-friendly Visitation Center at a state correctional facility; and
(3) Appropriating funds for the statewide implementation of parenting classes and after-care services for incarcerated parents.
The Office of Youth Services, Hawaii Youth Services Network, Good Beginnings Alliance, Community Alliance on Prisons, Blueprint for Change, and a concerned individual testified in support of this bill. The Department of Public Safety supported the intent of this measure.
Your Committee recognizes that when a parent is arrested and incarcerated, the impact on their children is tremendous. These children are prone to develop psychological and behavioral problems. Visitation policies and procedures can be frightening to children, and a Child-friendly Visitation Center would create a more family-friendly atmosphere and would enable parents to maintain familial bonds, while lessening the emotional impact on the children.
Your Committee has amended this bill by:
(1) Adding as members of the Task Force, representatives from:
(a) Hawaii Youth Services Network;
(b) Child and Family Services; and
(c) A Blueprint for Change Neighborhood Place,
and
(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity and style.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services and Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2349, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2349, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services and Housing,
|
____________________________ MICHAEL PUAMAMO KAHIKINA, Chair |