STAND. COM. REP. NO. 284

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 1140

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committees on Education and Public Safety, to which was referred S.B. No. 1140 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to support the successful reintegration into the community of prison inmates upon release through transition programs provided by the Department of Education.

 

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Department of Education, the Department of Public Safety, and Kumulipo.

 

     Your Committees find that the cost of housing a prison inmate is approximately $70 to $400 per day, varying based upon the level of security necessary for the incarceration.  Your Committees further find that the high rate of recidivism of former prison inmates can be very costly to the State and its residents, both economically and socially in the form of increased criminal activity.  The money spent on housing recidivists would be better spent on programs to educate and prepare prison inmates for positive and productive lives upon release.  Your Committees believe that these efforts must be initiated while individuals are incarcerated and must also continue after release to be successful in truly combating recidivism.

 

     Your Committees are aware that although some inmates may pursue their general education development diplomas or other education or training while incarcerated, many fail to continue with such education upon release.  This may be attributed to a difficulty in assimilating into established adult education programs in the community after being incarcerated.  Your Committees determine that separate programs and schools for former inmates would provide a more comfortable environment for these individuals to continue their education and training and, thus, improve the chances for successful reintegration into the community.  Additionally, to ensure continuity of purpose, the Departments of Education and Public Safety should work together in formulating a comprehensive approach to beginning to educate and, most importantly, shepherding the continued education of inmates while in prison through their transition into the community to achieve the greatest success.  Therefore, funding for both departments is appropriate to allow each department to integrate the components necessary to establish a system that will benefit the inmates as well as the people of this State.

 

     Accordingly, your Committees have amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Including an appropriation to the Department of Public Safety for the development of portions of what will be a comprehensive approach to successful prison inmate reintegration into the community through the establishment of educational programs, including distance learning programs, and a tracking system for prison inmates and their successful outcomes;

 

     (2)  Clarifying the responsibilities of the Department of Education in developing educational programs and schools for shepherding prison inmates in their education during incarceration through to release and developing a tracking system for prison inmates and their successful outcomes;

 

     (3)  Including a reporting requirement for the Departments of Education and Public Safety on the programs established under the measure; and

 

     (4)  Making a technical, nonsubstantive change for purposes of clarity and to conform to preferred drafting style.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Education and Public Safety that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1140, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1140, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Education and Public Safety,

 

____________________________

WILL ESPERO, Chair

 

____________________________

NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair