STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2218

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2305

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Human Services and Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2305 entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Acknowledge adverse experiences faced by children of incarcerated parents;

(2) Encourage continued efforts and engagement between the Department of Human Services, Department of Public Safety, Family Reunification Working Group, and other community stakeholders;

(3) Establish visitation centers for incarcerated parents to reunite with their children, to be operated by a non-profit organization in cooperation with the Department of Human Services and Department of Public Safety, and a plan for visitation centers at all state operated correctional facilities; and

(4) Appropriate funds for work necessary to establish, develop, and implement the visitation centers.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Public Safety, Hawaii Children's Action Network, Blueprint for Change, Family Reunification Working Group, Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest and Hawaii, Young Progressives Demanding Action, Community Alliance on Prisons, Going Home Hawaii, YWCA O‘ahu, Ka Lāhui Hawai‘i Political Action Committee, and nine individuals. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services.

Your Committees find that children of incarcerated parents are more likely to be incarcerated themselves as teenagers or adults. Your Committees further find that parental incarceration is noted as a strong risk factor and determinant for many adverse outcomes for children, including antisocial and violent behavior, mental health problems, failure to graduate from school, and unemployment.

Your Committees believe the establishment of a place of family visitation, known as a visitation center, is in the best interest and well-being of a child and may have many benefits for the incarcerated parent, community, and State.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services and Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2305 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Human Services and Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs,

________________________________ CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair

________________________________ JOSH GREEN, Chair