Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Public Safety & Military Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1750 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to appropriate funds to support community-based reintegration programs for female offenders transitioning back into the community.

Testimony in support of this bill was received from the Department of Public Safety, Hawaii Paroling Authority, American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii, Community Alliance on Prisons, TJ Mahoney & Associates Ka Hale Hoala Hou No Na Wahine (TJ Mahoney), thirty-six residents and former residents of the TJ Mahoney program, and three private individuals.

Your Committee finds that an increase in transitional programs, like the TJ Mahoney program, will provide women inmates with an opportunity to gain valuable reintegration skills before reuniting with families, entering the workforce, and re-entering their communities.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety & Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1750 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.