STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1841

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 67

H.D. 1

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 67, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE PU`UHONUA PROGRAM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to provide continued support for the University of Hawaii Windward Community College pu`uhonua "places of sanctuary" program.

More specifically, the measure appropriates funds to the University of Hawaii for the establishment of three additional full-time equivalent staff positions for the pu`uhonua program.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the University of Hawaii, Department of Public Safety, Kahalu`u Neighborhood Board No. 29, Community Alliance on Prisons, ACLU of Hawaii, Ko`olau Foundation, and numerous individuals.

Your Committee finds that Windward Community College's pu`uhonua program serves incarcerated populations by providing educational opportunities and education credits leading to degrees and certificates. Your Committee also finds that students in the program are much less likely to recidivate and be reincarcerated after release from prison. Your Committee further finds that this measure will provide the program with the additional staff needed to maintain student counseling, instructional support, and coursework coordination services.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the number of additional program staff positions from three to an unspecified number to facilitate further discussion.

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. 67, 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. 67, 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