STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1473

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 433

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 433, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC SAFETY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to decrease the cycle of recidivism in the criminal justice system.

More specifically, this measure:

(1) Requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to submit an annual report to the Legislature on the number of individuals released that received reentry services; and

(2) Appropriates moneys to the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for reentry services to connect offenders with community-based services.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, ACLU of Hawaii, Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, Community Alliance on Prisons, Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition, and Opportunity for Youth Action Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that providing annual sustained funding for criminal offender reentry services leads to more successful reintegration of offenders into the community after their release from custody, thereby reducing recidivism. Your Committee finds that the appropriations contained in this measure for reentry services are critical to the public safety of Hawaii's residents and visitors.

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. 433, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair