STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1099-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.B. No. 2772

S.D. 2

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. 2772, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FURLOUGH AND DRUG TREATMENT PROGRAMS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for:

(1) New and existing community-based furlough programs; and

(2) Residential drug treatment, therapeutic living, and mental health programs that allow Judiciary-involved women to bring their minor children into the program to reduce the risks of trauma and multigenerational incarceration.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Women's Prison Project, Community Alliance on Prisons, Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition, and seven individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Judiciary, Department of Budget and Finance, and Department of Public Safety.

Your Committee finds that the number of programs that allow minors to remain with their mothers while in treatment is limited. Funding to support and expand these existing programs would be beneficial as their capacity to provide residential treatment to women with minor children is a challenge. Your Committee also finds that there is a limited number of beds, which results in waitlists for mothers seeking treatment. This measure will decrease rates of incarcerated women and reduce recidivism by expanding prison diversion services for female offenders.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that the appropriations in this measure are for existing community-based prison diversion programs, rather than for the creation of new programs;

(2) Clarifying that funds for community-based furlough programs are to be expended by the Department of Public Safety, rather than the Judiciary;

(3) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(4) 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. 2772, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2772, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

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

____________________________

TAKASHI OHNO, Chair