STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2930

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2373

S.D. 1

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 S.B. No. 2373 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to assist former inmates after they are released from incarceration.

More specifically, the measure:

(1) Establishes a "Project Reset" Program, to be administered by the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness, to oversee the development and implementation of comprehensive post-release housing programs to assist offenders transitioning back into the community; and

(2) Appropriates moneys to the Department of Human Services for the program.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Public Safety, Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii Health and Harm Reduction Center, League of Women Voters, Institute for Human Services, Community Alliance on Prisons, and Women's Prison Project.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services, Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness, and Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee finds that the assistance provided to offenders through the "Project Reset" Program in securing post-release housing will help to support offenders' reentry, rehabilitation, and employment prospects.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the appropriation from $375,000 to an unspecified amount;

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

(3) 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 S.B. No. 2373, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2373, S.D. 1.

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

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair