THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2523

THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2020

S.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

H.D. 2

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature recognizes the importance of the community-based work furlough program for women.  Since 2015, the department of public safety has contracted with a local nonprofit organization to place up to twenty-three women from the women's community correctional center on Oahu in a residential program that provides a supportive environment geared towards re-entering society and rebuilding their lives.  The residential program's job readiness and job retention programs enable women to return to the workforce, keeping eighty-four per cent of participants out of prison.

     In June 2020, the department of public safety announced that budget cuts, necessitated by the revenue loss caused by the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, would require cancellation of its contract with the nonprofit organization and end the program on June 30, 2020.

     Contrary to claims made by the department of public safety, the budget passed by the legislature shows no reductions to the operating budget of the women's community correctional center that would impact the ability to provide contracted services.  Budget reductions for all state agencies were based on vacant positions within each department, not appropriations for other current services or contracts.  Furthermore, after factoring in vacant position reductions, the women's community correctional center (PSD409) received a net increase of $1,550,443 for fiscal year 2020-2021.

     SECTION 2.  Act 5, Session Laws of Hawaii 2019, as amended by House Bill No. 2200 H.D 1, S.D. 1, passed by the legislature during the regular session of 2020, is amended by adding a new section after section 6.5 to read as follows:

     "Section 6.6.  Provided that of legislative appropriation item I-19 for the department of public safety for fiscal year 2020-2021 in section 3 of this Act, the general fund sum of $450,045 shall be expended from the fiscal year 2020-2021 budget (PSD900, general funds) by the department of public safety for the purposes of the community-based work furlough program for female inmates; provided further that no other funds appropriated for PSD900 in section 3 of this Act shall be expended until the requirements of this section are implemented."

     SECTION 3.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act, upon its approval, shall take effect retroactive to June 30, 2020.



 

Report Title:

PSD; Director of Public Safety; Corrections; Correctional Facilities; Community Correctional Centers; Work Furlough Program

 

Description:

Requires the Department of Public Safety to expend certain appropriated funds during fiscal year 2020-2021 solely for the community-based work furlough program for female inmates.  Effective retroactively to 6/30/2020.  (HD2)

 

 

 

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