Bill Text: HI HB2111 | 2020 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating To Children And Family Of Incarcerated Individuals.
Spectrum: Strong Partisan Bill (Democrat 11-1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-02-13 - Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Eli, Har excused (2). [HB2111 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2020-HB2111-Introduced.html
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
2111 |
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THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2020 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to children and family of incarcerated individuals.
BE IT
ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the National Resource Center on Children and Families of the Incarcerated reports that an estimated 2,700,000 children nationwide have at least one parent that is incarcerated. Studies conducted by the National Fatherhood Initiative show that in terms of negative impacts on children, incarceration may be worse than the death of a parent or the divorce of parents. Moreover, it is evidenced that children of incarcerated parents are more likely to become incarcerated themselves as teenagers or adults, thus continuing the cycle of incarceration that becomes generational in some families, and sadly, a reality for many in the State of Hawai‘i.
The legislature further finds that the children of incarcerated parents are some of the nation's most vulnerable and marginalized populations. Parental incarceration is noted as being a strong risk factor and determinant for many adverse outcomes for children, including antisocial and violent behavior, mental health problems, failure to graduate from school, and unemployment. Parental incarceration is nationally recognized under "adverse childhood experiences" by Kaiser Permanente, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and is distinguished from other adverse childhood experiences by the unique combination of trauma, shame, and stigma.
Over the past ten years, Hawai‘i organizations that serve children and families affected by parental incarceration have developed a myriad of services aimed at this population; however, there continue to be major gaps in service, particularly because funding for these programs has never been established as a priority. One reason is that data on children of incarcerated parents has not been available historically. The absence of data has meant there was insufficient data available to illustrate and justify the extent of the problem in Hawai‘i. This is especially true for service providers who are trying to access federal funding that is programmed to assist children and families and break the cycle of incarceration.
In January 2014, the legislature's keiki caucus established the family reunification working group to explore the issues surrounding children and families impacted by incarceration. The group was comprised of representatives from several organizations and service providers, including Blueprint for Change, Hawaii Prisoners Resource Center, dba Holomua Center, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, ALU LIKE, Inc., Queen Lili‘uokalani Children's Center, Keiki O Ka ‘Āina Learning Centers, Family Programs Hawai‘i, Adult Friends for Youth, Community Alliance on Prisons, TJ Mahoney/Ka Hale Ho‘āla Hou No Nā Wāhine, Chaminade University's Native Hawaiian Program, and Makana o Ke Akua Clean and Sober Living. It also included parents of children who have been affected by incarceration. The group established two immediate priorities to work on, a database of children in Hawai‘i impacted by incarceration, and a one-stop resource center for these children and their families. During the 2015 legislative session, a bill was passed requiring the department of public safety to begin collecting data at the point of intake on the number of minor children under the age of eighteen from each incarcerated parent. Based on this data, in Hawai‘i there are approximately 4,000 children a year affected by parental incarceration.
Furthermore, the legislature finds that the prison environment can be frightening and traumatizing for children, both in the attitudes and behaviors of prison staff and the harshness of the physical setting of visitation sites. Visits can include long waits, body frisks, rude treatment, and exposure to crowded visiting rooms with no activities for children. Such conditions do not encourage frequent visits between incarcerated parents and their children. Studies suggest the maintenance of family ties and parent-child relationships is linked to post-release success, lower rates of recidivism, and fewer parole violations; therefore, visitation should be encouraged.
To address problems with visitation and family support, the Keiki Caucus introduced, and the legislature adopted two concurrent resolutions during the Regular Session of 2019, H.C.R. 205 and S.C.R. 7. These resolutions requested the department of human services, in consultation with the department of public safety, to work with the family reunification working group and other stakeholders to develop a plan to establish children-friendly and family-friendly visitation centers at all state correctional prisons and jails to ensure the wellbeing of children of incarcerated parents and their families. A working group was convened in August 2019 and after several meetings the group developed a proposal calling for the establishment of a pilot visitation and family resource project to be located at Waiawa Correctional Facility, in Waipahu on O‘ahu.
The working group found that there are working models that could be emulated and referenced for effectiveness and applicability. One successful example is the visitation center program established in California by the non-profit organization Friends Outside that is funded by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation under legislative mandate. The primary purpose of those centers is to remove barriers and facilitate family visitation to strengthen and reunify families with an emphasis on the wellbeing of the child. The California centers are located on prison grounds but outside the prison walls, and staffed with employees trained to educate children of their parents' incarceration through age-appropriate means, inform children and families on prison and jail policies to ensure they work with their incarcerated loved one to abide by and uphold state rules and regulations, connect children and families with resources in the community, and facilitate incarcerated parent-child relationships by addressing trauma during the period of incarceration. The California centers serve as a one-stop shop for the children and families, which also helps to alleviate demands on the corrections department.
The legislature finds that the establishment of family visitation and resource centers is in the best interest and well-being of the child and as studies suggest, may have many benefits for the incarcerated parent and other family members, the community, and the State.
The purpose of this Act is to:
(1) Acknowledge adverse experiences faced by children of incarcerated parents;
(2) Encourage continued efforts and engagement between the department of human services, department of public safety, the family reunification working group, and other community stakeholders to find ways to improve visitation at State correctional facilities;
(3) Require the establishment of a pilot visitation and family resource center located at Waiawa Correctional Facility that shall be operated by a non-profit organization contracted by the department of human services and include trauma-informed professionals who shall serve as liaisons and ho‘okele for families affected by incarceration; and
(4) Appropriate funds for work necessary to establish, develop, and implement the pilot visitation and family resource center.
SECTION 2.
The department of human services shall continue
to lead a working group to address visitation and support needs of children and
families of incarcerated individuals. Beginning August 1, 2020,
the department of human services shall work together with the department of
public safety, the family reunification working group, and other entities
serving children and families affected by parental incarceration to establish a
pilot visitation and family resource center at Waiawa correctional facility on O‘ahu. The visitation and family resource center shall
be operated by a non-profit organization in cooperation with the department of
human services, department of public safety, and other community stakeholders.
The working group shall be
exempt from chapter 92, Hawaii Revised Statutes.
The working group shall
submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed
legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the
convening of the regular session of 2021.
The working group shall cease to exist on January 31, 2021; provided that the department of human services may continue the work of the working group beyond January 31, 2021 if the department deems it necessary.
SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $150,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2020-2021 for the establishment of a pilot visitation and family resource center at Waiawa correctional center on O‘ahu.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $150,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2020-2021 for the establishment of a pilot visitation and family resource center at Waiawa correctional center on O‘ahu.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of public safety for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2020.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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Report Title:
Keiki Caucus; Incarcerated Parents; Pilot Visitation Center; Appropriation
Description:
Requires the department of human services to work with the department of public safety to establish a pilot visitation and family resource center at Wahiawa correctional facility. Makes an appropriation.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
