Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 2349 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to develop a process for identifying arrested individuals with minor children and provide counseling and assistance in making appropriate arrangements for care of their children.

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by Hawaii Youth Services Network, Good Beginnings Alliance, Hawaii Coalition for Dads, Blueprint for Change, and a private citizen. The Department of Public Safety offered comments on this measure.

Your Committee finds that when parents are arrested and incarcerated, the impact on their children is tremendous. These children are likely to develop psychological problems and experience grief, guilt, shame, or fear. School performance often declines and truancy, substance abuse, and aggressive behavior may increase.

It is difficult for parents to maintain relationships with their children while incarcerated, particularly in Hawaii. Nearly one-quarter of Hawaii's prisoners are held in privately operated out-of-state facilities. Visitation procedures can be frightening to children. Providing a play area with toys and books would create a more family-friendly atmosphere and enable parents to maintain bonds with their children.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2349, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2349, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.