STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3878

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 1741

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1741, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CHILDREN AND FAMILY OF INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to improve the well-being of children and families of incarcerated parents.

 

     More specifically, the measure:

 

     (1)  Requires the Department of Human Services to continue leading a working group to address visitation and support needs of children and families of incarcerated individuals;

 

     (2)  Requires the working group to submit a report to the Legislature that includes the estimated costs of operating a sustainable pilot Visitation and Family Resource Center at Waiawa Correctional Facility on Oahu;

 

     (3)  Requires the Department of Human Services to work with the Department of Public Safety, Family Reunification Working Group, and other entities serving children and families affected by parental incarceration to establish a pilot Visitation and Family Resource Center at Waiawa Correctional Facility; and

 

     (4)  Appropriates moneys to establish the pilot Visitation and Family Resource Center.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Human Services, Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition, Hawaii Youth Services Network, Hawaii Association of School Psychologists, Community Alliance on Prisons, Women's Prison Project, Hawaii Children's Action Network Speaks!, Blueprint for Change, Ohana Support Network, ACLU of Hawaii, Early Childhood Action Strategy, and eight individuals.

 

     Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Office of Information Practices and Department of Budget and Finance.

 

     Your Committee finds that the pilot Visitation and Family Resource Center to be established at Waiawa Correctional Facility pursuant to this measure will provide a more suitable environment for visitation to occur among children and their incarcerated parents and help to minimize the trauma often experienced by families affected by incarceration.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Deleting a redundant reference to the Department of Human Services;

 

     (2)  Changing the appropriations to unspecified amounts;

 

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

 

     (4)  Making technical nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     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 H.B. No. 1741, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1741, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.

 

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

 

 

 

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair