STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1891-18

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2018

RE: S.B. No. 2791

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 2791, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO JUVENILE JUSTICE REFORM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to improve and enhance Hawaii's juvenile justice system by:

(1) Supporting Ho‘opono Mamo, the new Hawaii youth diversion system, through the establishment of the Kawailoa Youth and Family Wellness Center to be operated and maintained by the Hawaii Youth Correctional Facilities;

(2) Strengthening services available to prevent juvenile delinquency and recidivism and support rehabilitation;

(3) Re-investing savings from the reduction of the number of youth in secure confinement at a Hawaii youth correctional facility into the provision of mental health and substance abuse treatment and rehabilitation services to prevent juvenile delinquency and to provide a more successful and supportive community reentry transition; and

(4) Appropriating funds to the Department of Human Services for the operational costs of an organization providing prevention, intervention, and group and individual counseling for high risk youth.

Hawaii Youth Services Network, Community Alliance on Prisons, Ho‘omanapono Political Action Committee, Mental Health America of Hawaii, Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, Residential Youth Services & Empowerment, and several concerned individuals testified in support of this measure. The United Public Workers, AFSCME, Local 646, AFL-CIO, and three concerned individuals testified in opposition to this measure. The Department of Human Services, Department of Health, Department of Education, and Adult Friends for Youth provided comments.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2791, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair