Bill Text: HI SB2773 | 2022 | Regular Session | Introduced

Hawaii Senate Bill 2773 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Relating To Educational Programs.

Spectrum: Strong Partisan Bill (Democrat 17-1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2022-01-24 - Referred to PSM/HRE, WAM. [SB2773 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2022-SB2773-Introduced.html

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2773
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to educational programs.

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that educating Hawaii's people leads to creative solutions and innovation for the State to thrive. In 2021, the governor awarded $8.1 million in innovative programs across the State as part of the governor's emergency education relief (GEER) fund. With the onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, GEER grants allow schools, colleges, and other educational entities across the State to engage in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education, project-based learning, and leadership development programs to reimagine various sectors for the post-COVID-19 environment.

The legislature further finds that higher and continuing education reduces recidivism, as higher education is linked to higher levels of employment. Utilizing the GEER grant, the department of public safety, in partnership with the University of Hawaii, McKinley community school for adults, and Hawaii friends for restorative justice, created the higher and continuing education program to support women incarcerated at the women's community correctional center. The higher and continuing education program provides key resources to women who wish to pursue higher education through re-entry programs and transition services post-incarceration. The GEER grant program further allows incarcerated women to achieve higher education goals while also reducing the risk of recidivism.

Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to extend the higher and continuing education program at women's community correctional center.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $500,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2022-2023 to fund the higher and continuing education program, which shall:

(1) Train incarcerated women to become general education development (GED) tutors for their peers;

(2) Maintain the Windward community college program established at women's community correctional center after grant funding lapses in June of 2022;

(3) Provide college correspondence courses for women at women's community correctional center; and

(4) Provide re-entry and transition services for women who wish to continue their education post-incarceration.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of public safety for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2022.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

Higher and Continuing Education Program; Women's Community Correctional Center; Department of Public Safety; University of Hawaii; Windward Community College; Continuing Education; Appropriation

Description:

Appropriates funds to extend the higher and continuing education program at women's community correctional center to support. Provides funding for incarcerated women to become general education development (GED) tutors to peers, college correspondence courses, re-entry and transitional services, and continuation of the program at Windward Community College.

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