STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2081

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2433

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2433 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Encourage inmates to participate in correctional educational programs and vocational training by offering subsidized tuition, housing, and health care benefits to qualifying inmates;

(2) Increase the quality and quantity of correctional mentorship, counseling, educational, and vocational training programs available to interested inmates; and

(3) Appropriate funds to expand model programs to include more quality educational and vocational programs and to fund rewards for inmates who participate in correctional education programs while incarcerated.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition, Common Cause Hawaii, Community Alliance on Prisons, and eight individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Public Safety and Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee finds that educational programs in prisons have significant benefits. Studies have shown that individuals who participate in any type of educational program while in prison are forty-three percent less likely to return to prison. Additionally, prisons with college programs have less violence among incarcerated individuals, which creates a safer environment for both incarcerated individuals and prison staff. The significant personal benefits of prison education include increased personal income, lower unemployment, greater political engagement and volunteerism, and improved health outcomes. Your Committee believes that promoting inmate participation in prison educational programs will benefit inmates and the community. This measure will incentivize inmates to participate in educational, vocational, and mentorship programs while incarcerated by appropriating funds for reward programs for inmates who participate in certain model programs and increasing the quality and quantity of programs available to inmates.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2433 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs,

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CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair