STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1103-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.B. No. 2373

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Corrections, Military, & Veterans, to which was referred S.B. No. 2373, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO OFFENDER REENTRY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Create a new program called "project reset", which will help offenders secure post-release housing, including transitional housing and permanent housing, to support the offender's reentry, rehabilitation, and employment prospects; and

(2) Appropriate funds for this purpose.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Public Safety; Office of the Public Defender; Chamber of Commerce Hawaii; Women's Prison Project; Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition; Community Alliance on Prisons; Going Home Hawaii; The Institute for Human Services, Inc.; and five individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness, Department of Human Services, Department of Budget and Finance, and American Civil Liberties Union of Hawai‘i.

Your Committee finds that offenders exiting correctional facilities are at risk of becoming homeless but are not aware of or eligible for many services afforded to the homeless. Assisting offenders to obtain post-release housing as they transition back into the community will provide a measure of stability and help to minimize recidivism.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Establishing one full-time equivalent position within the Department of Human Services to administer the project reset program;

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Corrections, Military, & Veterans that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2373, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2373, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Health, Human Services, & Homelessness.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Corrections, Military, & Veterans,

____________________________

TAKASHI OHNO, Chair