CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 89

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  , 2023

 

RE:     S.B. No. 712

        S.D. 2

        H.D. 1

        C.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

 

Sirs:

 

     Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 712, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CORRECTIONS,"

 

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

 

     The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to Windward Community College to support a level I trauma-informed certification program for adult corrections officers in the State.

 

     Your Committee on Conference finds that a large number of the individuals in the corrections and rehabilitation system have experienced significant trauma during their lifetimes.  Your Committee on Conference further finds that training in trauma-informed care for corrections professionals allows them to better connect with incarcerated individuals who have experienced trauma, which often results in improved rehabilitation outcomes and reduced recidivism rates.  This measure will improve the rehabilitation of incarcerated individuals that have gone through traumatic experiences.

 

     Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Deleting language that would have appropriated funds to support a level I trauma-informed certification program at the University of Hawaii Windward Community College for adult corrections officers;

 

     (2)  Establishing a trauma-informed certification program at the Windward Community College campus of the University of Hawaii for adult corrections officers;

 

     (3)  Requiring the Department of Public Safety to collaborate and provide support to the University of Hawaii in establishing a trauma-informed certification program at Windward Community College;

 

     (4)  Allowing the Department of Public Safety, as the designated expending agency for moneys appropriated for a level I trauma-informed certification program to be funded by operating funds authorized during the Regular Session of 2023, to delegate to the University of Hawaii Windward Community College projects related or similar to the level I trauma-informed certification program;

 

     (5)  Clarifying the legislative findings to indicate that the need for the certification program is a matter of statewide concern;

 

     (6)  Making it effective upon its approval; and

 

     (7)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 712, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 712, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, C.D. 1.


 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

 

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

 

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

 

____________________________

MARK J. HASHEM

Co-Chair

 

____________________________

GLENN WAKAI

Chair

____________________________

CORY CHUN

Co-Chair

 

____________________________

DONNA MERCADO KIM

Co-Chair

 

 

____________________________

SHARON MORIWAKI

Co-Chair