STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1137-18

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2018

RE: H.R. No. 14

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Public Safety, to which was referred H.R. No. 14 entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY, TO WORK WITH THE FAMILY REUNIFICATION WORKING GROUP AND OTHER COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS TO DEVELOP A PLAN TO ESTABLISH VISITATION CENTERS AT ALL STATE CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES AND JAILS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Department of Human Services, in consultation with the Department of Public Safety, to work with the Family Reunification Working Group and other community stakeholders to develop a plan to establish visitation centers at all state correctional facilities and jails to promote reunification of incarcerated parents with their children.

The Office of the Public Defender, Blueprint for Change, Hawaii Youth Services Network, Community Alliance on Prisons, Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, Ka Lahui Hawai‘i Political Action Committee, and several concerned individuals supported this measure. The Department of Public Safety and Department of Human Services offered comments.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 14 and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety,

____________________________

GREGG TAKAYAMA, Chair