Appropriates funds to expand use of inmate work lines for groundskeeping on state property.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that almost all convicted defendants who are sentenced to prison will return, sooner or later, to society. Many of them enter prison with limited education and few skills and, with the lack of resources necessary for intensive educational and work training programs, these individuals change little while imprisoned and return to society without the tools and motivation necessary to avoid repeating their crimes.

The legislature also finds that, with limited resources available even for the highest priorities of the State -- education, housing, human services -- there is often a lack of resources necessary for basic upkeep of the grounds at state facilities and other public property. Some work has been done by inmate work lines operated by the department of public safety and these work lines have given idle inmates an opportunity to work in the community and learn basic skills. These programs do not generally displace state workers or private contractors because they focus on projects not ordinarily done by either employees or contractors.

The legislature further finds that, despite the favorable cost-benefit ratio of work done with inexpensive inmate labor, the use of inmates has been limited by the lack of available adult corrections officers who are often reassigned from work line duty when there are insufficient officers available for work within the correctional facilities. These programs also lack basic equipment such as uniforms for the inmates, vans to transport them to work sites, and equipment such as weed whackers with which to work.

The purpose of this Act is to fund work line programs out of all community correctional centers and thereby to provide inmates with the opportunity to be productive, be active in the community, and learn basic work skills and habits.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $1,206,045, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2005-2006, and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007, for operation of inmate work lines in the community correctional centers, including adult corrections officers dedicated to supervision of work lines, vans or other appropriate means of transportation to and from work sites, inmate uniforms, and tools and equipment necessary for groundskeeping and similar work.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of public safety for the purpose of this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2005.