Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2688, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require implementation of policies and procedures, protocols, and a quality assurance program to ensure adequate youth correctional facility staff training.

This measure also provides for comprehensive assessments of all persons committed to youth correctional facilities and revises the duties and responsibilities of regional advisory boards.

The Hawaii Youth Services Network, the Hawaii Juvenile Justice Project, and one individual submitted testimony in support of this measure. The Department of Human Services' Office of Youth Services submitted comments.

Your Committee finds that deficiencies exist in the Hawaii Youth Correctional Facility's policies and procedures for dealing with the needs of youth in the facility. As noted by the Hawaii Youth Services Network, improved staff training is among the essential changes needed to ensure that youth in the facility receive an appropriate assessment of their needs. This measure requires the development and implementation of a quality assurance program to identify procedures to ensure compliance with mandatory staff training, effectiveness of the training, and provision of services in an efficient and effective manner.

The measure states specific areas that shall be included in the written standards of conduct and operation that will benefit both the youth and the staff. The measure requires the development and implementation of a program to assess youth needs on an individual basis and provides for the creation of individualized treatment plans. The measure also expands the duties and responsibilities of the regional advisory boards.

Your Committee amended this measure by making technical, non-substantive amendments for clarity and style.

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. 2688, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2688, S.D. 2.