STAND. COM. REP. NO. 203

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: H.B. No. 670

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Public Safety, Veterans, & Military Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 670 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC SAFETY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish a pilot program, to be administered at correctional facilities and centers on Oahu, to reduce recidivism through intervention, prevention, cultural support, and education initiatives, and to appropriate funds for the pilot program.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, Community Alliance on Prisons, and several individuals supported this measure. The Department of Public Safety offered comments.

Your Committee notes that the proposed pilot program is supported by humanitarian experts, including the Director of Literacy and Discussion Programs for the Hawai‘i Council for the Humanities. He testified that the proposed pilot program and its educational component has the potential for complementing training, and academic and vocational skills that are currently offered to inmates.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the amount appropriated for the pilot program to an unspecified amount; and

(2) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

Should the Committee on Finance deliberate on this measure further, your Committee on Public Safety, Veterans, & Military Affairs respectfully request that it consider appropriating $100,000 for the pilot program to reduce recidivism in correctional facilities and centers on Oahu.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety, Veterans, & Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 670, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 670, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety, Veterans, & Military Affairs,

____________________________

GREGG TAKAYAMA, Chair