Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 3084 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for the expansion of the KASHBOX substance abuse treatment program at the Waiawa correctional facility and the establishment of offender transitional services centers.

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney, City and County of Honolulu; Community Alliance on Prisons; and Drug Policy Action Group. Testimony in opposition to this measure was submitted by the Department of Public Safety and the Hawaii Paroling Authority.

It has been estimated that up to ninety percent of the State's inmates have a history of substance abuse. This figure is particularly significant given that studies have revealed a correlation between substance abuse and crime.

Your Committee believes that treatment of incarcerated drug users in programs like KASHBOX (knowledge, attitude, skills, habits, behavior, opinion, and the unknown "x" factor) appears to be effective. KASHBOX attempts to change a drug-using inmate's lifestyle by eliminating anti-social activity, enhancing the person's employability, and encouraging pro-social values and attitudes.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making a technical, non-substantive change.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3084, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3084, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.