Bill Text: HI HB1129 | 2024 | Regular Session | Amended

Hawaii House Bill 1129

Amended

Bill Title: Relating To Incarcerated Women.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-0)

Status: (Engrossed) 2023-12-11 - Carried over to 2024 Regular Session. [HB1129 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2024-HB1129-Amended.html

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1129
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII		S.D. 1

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO INCARCERATED WOMEN.

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that in August 2021, Hawaii Friends of Restorative Justice was awarded $250,000 from the governor's emergency education relief fund. The moneys were part of more than $8,000,000 allocated to the State for purposes of education through the federal Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act and Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. The award funded the first year of an education and reentry program for incarcerated women developed and administered by Hawaii Friends of Restorative Justice, in partnership with the women's community correctional center, windward community college, the university of Hawaii at Manoa, and McKinley community school for adults. The goals of the program are to train incarcerated women to be general education development tutors for their peers, provide college correspondence courses for women incarcerated at the women's community correctional center, and provide reentry and transition services for women who wish to continue their education after release from incarceration.

The legislature further finds that in 2022, the legislature attempted to fund the second year of the pilot program by making a $200,000 appropriation to McKinley community school for adults. However, McKinley community school did not develop and does not directly administer the program. As of November l, 2022, the appropriated moneys had not been distributed. Hawaii Friends of Restorative Justice has continued to administer the program through a private donation while awaiting access to the appropriated state funding.

The legislature recognizes that the program has been successful at assisting incarcerated women to achieve their educational goals and has increased passage rates for the general educational development test. In ten months, the program assisted twenty women who were incarcerated at the women's community correctional center in obtaining general educational development certifications. Prior to the program, approximately two women per year who were incarcerated in the same facility passed the test.

Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to:

(1) Require the McKinley community school for adults to work with Hawaii Friends of Restorative Justice to provide counseling services for incarcerated women participating in the education and reentry program for incarcerated women that is developed and administered by Hawaii Friends of Restorative Justice; and

(2) Appropriate moneys for the education and reentry program for incarcerated women that is developed and administered by Hawaii Friends of Restorative Justice.

SECTION 2. The McKinley community school for adults shall work with Hawaii Friends of Restorative Justice to provide counseling services for incarcerated women participating in the education and reentry program for incarcerated women that is developed and administered by Hawaii Friends of Restorative Justice.

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2023�2024 as a grant pursuant to chapter 42F, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to Hawaii Friends of Restorative Justice to continue administering the education and reentry program for incarcerated women.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the university of Hawaii Windward community college for the purposes of this Act; provided that the university of Hawaii Windward community college may award grants to private entities to achieve the purposes of this Act; provided further that:

(1) Any grant shall be used exclusively for the purposes of an education and reentry program for incarcerated women;

(2) A grant applicant shall indicate capability to properly use the grant for purposes consistent with the education and reentry program for incarcerated women;

(3) A grant applicant shall comply with all applicable federal and state laws prohibiting discrimination against any person on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, creed, sex, age, sexual orientation, disability, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal or state law;

(4) A grant shall not be used for purposes of providing entertainment or perquisites;

(5) A grant applicant shall comply with other requirements as the university of Hawaii may prescribe;

(6) All activities undertaken using grant funds received shall comply with all applicable federal, state, and county statutes and ordinances;

(7) A grant applicant shall indemnify and hold harmless the State of Hawaii and its officers, agents, and employees from and against any and all claims arising out of or resulting from activities carried out, or projects undertaken, using grant funds provided under this Act, and shall procure sufficient insurance to provide this indemnification if requested to do so by the university of Hawaii; and

(8) A grant applicant shall agree to make available to the university of Hawaii all records the applicant may have relating to the grant, to allow state agencies to monitor the applicant's compliance with this section.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.

Report Title:

UH; Windward Community College; McKinley Community School for Adults; Education; Incarcerated Women; Appropriation

Description:

Requires the McKinley Community School for Adults to work with Hawaii Friends of Restorative Justice to provide counseling services for incarcerated women participating in the education and reentry program for incarcerated women that is developed and administered by Hawaii Friends of Restorative Justice. Appropriates moneys as a chapter 42F, Hawaii Revised Statutes, grant for the University of Hawaii Windward Community College education and reentry program for incarcerated women that is developed and administered by Hawaii Friends of Restorative Justice. Authorizes the University of Hawaii Windward Community College to award grants to private entities. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.