STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2885

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2305

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2305 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO INCARCERATED PARENTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require the establishment of a pilot visitation center at one or more minimum security correctional facilities in the State.

The measure also requires the development of a plan for visitation centers at all state-operated correctional facilities.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Public Safety; Community Alliance on Prisons; Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest and Hawaii; Blueprint for Change; YWCA Oahu; Hawaii Youth Services Network; OCC Legislative Priorities Committee, Democratic Party of Hawaii; Hawaii Children's Action Network; Aloha Light Team; Hoomanapono Political Action Committee; Young Progressives Demanding Action - Hawaii; Hawaii Justice Coalition; and eight individuals.

The Department of Human Services and Office of Hawaiian Affairs submitted written comments on the measure.

Your Committee finds that the establishment of family visitation centers at correctional facilities operated by the State will support the well-being of children of incarcerated parents and help families with an incarcerated family member strengthen and rebuild their relationships.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the appropriation from $300,000 to an unspecified amount;

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

(3) Making technical nonsubstantive changes for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

Your Committee respectfully requests that if this measure is considered by subsequent Committees as part of the legislative process, that those Committees provide clarification requested by the Department of Human Services as to whether the amount appropriated to the Department in the measure is expected to result in both the development of a statewide plan for visitation centers and the establishment of a pilot visitation center.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2305, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2305, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair