Video & Transcript Research : 'prison programs'

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CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Appropriations Committee Aug 29th, 2025

Transcript Highlights:
  • SB 4, Cervantes, Indigenous Justice Program, holding committee.
  • SB 69, McNerney, DOJ AI program, held in committee.
  • SB 69, McNerney, DOJ AI program, held in committee.
  • SB 337, Menjivar, prisons, to your bill.
  • SB 337, Menjivar, prisons, to your bill.
Summary: The Assembly Appropriations Committee held its August 29, 2025 suspense hearing on Senate bills, with the chair emphasizing the state’s ongoing budget constraints and the need to make difficult choices among 261 bills on the suspense file. After establishing a quorum, the committee began taking action bill by bill, with many measures receiving do pass or do pass with amendments recommendations, while others were held in committee or designated as two-year bills. The chair noted the agenda was organized alphabetically by author and that results would be posted later on the committee website. The hearing covered a wide range of topics, including insurance and claims data, wildfire relief and prevention, water planning, energy and utility regulation, housing and land use, health care, labor and employment, criminal justice, education, environmental policy, and election-related measures. Several bills were amended before passage, often to narrow scope, remove sections, adjust definitions, delay implementation, or clarify funding and enforcement provisions. Some notable actions included moving bills on AI regulation, transit-oriented housing, paid family leave, wildfire mapping, chemical hair relaxers, and pharmacy benefit managers, while other bills on subjects such as controlled substances, high-speed rail, and certain education or housing proposals were held. The committee also took formal roll-call votes on selected bills, with some passing on A roll calls and others on B roll calls; a number of measures were advanced with Republicans not voting. One highlighted vote was SB 79 by Senator Wiener, which passed after amendments and a recorded roll call. At the end of the hearing, the committee reported that 190 bills were moved to the Assembly Floor, either as do pass or do pass with amendments, concluding the suspense hearing for the session.
HI

Hawaii 2025 Regular Session

State of the Judiciary Address 01-23-2025

Hawaii Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Today, those programs are flourishing.
  • <00:28:52.159> are women's court today those programs are women's court today those programs
  • <00:30:24.519> for implemented a pilot program for implemented a pilot program for mediating
  • <00:45:13.480> the courts in the community program the courts in the community program the
  • <00:59:18.280> that the eviction mediation program that the eviction mediation program that
NM

New Mexico 2026 Regular Session

House - Consumer and Public Affairs Feb 7th, 2026 at 12:35 pm

House Consumer & Public Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • I haven't read this bill, but we did a pilot program for three years, and we put a certain amount of
  • The average expected length of sentence was 240 days, and that doesn't mean in prison.
  • “No, the one you passed was a second offense, 18 years mandatory prison.” “Right.
  • And we can do rehabilitation when they’re in prison. We can provide programs.
  • Like a program or class. It's nothing major.
Keywords: 996, all
AR
Transcript Highlights:
  • think if we can find them sooner rather than later, you quit with the revolving door of the jail, prison
  • , jail, prison, jail, prison, back into the community and back and forth, and back and forth.
  • Our non-Medicaid programs, I think you were already talking about a bit.
  • The other one we're doing is the community reintegration program.
  • They have a long family history of having family members in jail and in prison.
Keywords: 1204, all
Summary: The House Health Services Subcommittee met to approve the October 7, 2024 minutes and then shifted to behavioral health as the main topic. Representatives Wooldridge and Vaught described the work of the behavioral health working group, saying Arkansas needs a more proactive system focused on access, workforce, reimbursement, and reducing red tape. Members raised concerns about provider shortages, licensure barriers, rural access, reimbursement rates, jail-based services, non-emergency transport, and the need for step-down options and crisis diversion before people end up in jail or the state hospital. DHS Director Paula Stone outlined the behavioral health system, emphasizing that Medicaid pays for most behavioral health services in Arkansas and that many services cannot be billed once a person is in jail or the state hospital. She described current efforts including family-centered treatment for children, community reintegration group homes, a new adolescent substance use disorder unit, forensic evaluation and restoration changes, and a planned IMD waiver to allow Medicaid payment for certain psychiatric and residential services. She also explained the backlog at the state hospital and in forensic restoration, the role of therapeutic communities, and the challenges of serving rural and difficult-to-serve populations. Members asked about crisis stabilization units, civil commitment, dashboards for bed availability, and whether Arkansas should expand step-down or long-term facilities. Stone said the state has supported crisis stabilization units in several cities, with mixed results, and noted that Fort Smith and Jonesboro have been more successful than Fayetteville and Little Rock. She said DHS does not yet have a statewide bed dashboard but sees it as a useful tool. The meeting ended with agreement that the discussion was a starting point and that the committee would continue the work, tentatively in August, to develop policy ideas for the 2027 session.
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
  • were, you know, really hiding even small amounts of marijuana, when they were caught, they went to prison
  • were, you know, really hiding even small amounts of marijuana, when they're caught, they went to prison
  • for it. marijuana when they're caught they went to prison for it but today you know it's it's now it's
  • date of this section, and then it defines both television program and television series as a recurring
  • And then it defines both television program and television series as a recurring or episodic production
Keywords: 1182, all
ND

North Dakota 2026 1st Special Session

Government Finance Committee Mar 19th, 2026 at 01:00 pm

Government Finance Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • His new job title is deputy administrator for farm programs with USDA in the nation's capital.
  • That was anticipated, that the program would grow, for a couple of reasons.
  • It's a revenue-neutral fund, so it's just money in and just to run that program.
  • Our goal is to add one more program evaluator. They've been really difficult to find.
  • access to treatment programs, things along those lines.
Keywords: 908, all
NM

New Mexico 2026 Regular Session

Senate - Finance Jan 30th, 2026 at 09:14 am

Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:
  • Services Program.
  • I don't know why we need to expand other programs.
  • The only program from the general fund is their aviation services. Mr.
  • The department does have four programs. Our first program is project design and construction.
  • That's a grant to deliver our digital program.
Keywords: 996, all
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Floor Session May 27th, 2025

California House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • It is a year-long learning program designed to engage students and prepare them for professional roles
  • Who I know he's here with them today and has been instrumental in the Capes Fellows program at UC Merced
  • At a time when the federal government is dismantling environmental programs and defunding scientific
  • research, this bill ensures that California's cap and trade program continues to be informed.
  • In fact, our county in Placer County just rolled out a program for individuals convicted.
Keywords: 988, house, all
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

HSH-HLT Joint Public Hearing - Thu Mar 19, 2026 @ 9:30 AM HST

Human Services & Homelessness

Transcript Highlights:
  • facilitate any other homeless program. facilitate any other homeless program.
  • <01:15:12.280> Does program. So, what does that mean? Does program.
  • a prison. Hope is what drives change. a prison. Hope is what drives change.
  • and all respite programs together. and all respite programs together.
  • positions to support the program. positions to support the program.
Summary: The committee heard SB 709 SD2, which would require the Department of Health to respond to reports involving persons with severe mental illness, assess eligibility for assisted community treatment, and coordinate treatment when appropriate. Testimony from the Department of Human Services and the Department of Health supported the measure, with DOH saying it generally supported the bill but had comments on one section it viewed as unnecessary. The Department of Law Enforcement later explained that the bill would shift certification and standards for crisis intervention officer training from DOH to DLE, while still involving DOH in the training process. Opposition came from the Hawaii Disability Rights Center and an individual testifier, both of whom argued the bill expands state authority over people with mental illness and could worsen forced treatment practices. The Disability Rights Center also raised procedural concerns, saying the bill was effectively moved from a prior administration measure that had not been heard this session, and questioned whether the bill’s changes to assisted community treatment, blood tests, urinalysis, and living arrangements went beyond current law. The individual testifier argued the bill would further entrench harmful psychiatric drugging and urged the committee to defer it. Committee members questioned the administration about the bill’s process, the role of the Attorney General in treatment-over-objection proceedings, and the practical effects of moving CIT certification to DLE. The Attorney General’s office said the bill was intended to fill a gap by allowing it to assist with treatment proceedings, while public defenders would continue to represent respondents and due process protections would remain in place. DLE and DOH said the change would better align certification with law enforcement training needs, improve speed in crisis response, and still keep DOH involved; members also discussed whether WAM counted as a hearing and whether the bill should more explicitly preserve DOH’s role. No vote or final action was taken in the portion provided.
LA

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

Judiciary B May 14th, 2026

Judiciary B

Transcript Highlights:
  • Are we actually investing enough in things that work, programming like reentry programming, being able
  • Are we actually investing enough in things that work, programming like reentry programming, being able
  • and our jail management programs.
  • of making the program available to certain offenders.
  • The recurring theme around here are resources to establish and access the programming pilot program to
Keywords: 974, senate, all
NM

New Mexico 2025 Regular Session

Senate - Judiciary Jan 27th, 2025

Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:
  • For many reasons, the Mexican gray wolf program is also relevant to our discussions.
  • We also have statutory obligations to send to DFA the amounts owed to counties for holding prisoners
  • When the Accountants Intervention Program Act was passed a few years ago, we have a coordination role
  • in 2022, the PREA, the Prison Rape Elimination Act.
  • We're regularly tasked with joining task forces such as the jail and prison integration task force in
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • There's a fee for conveying a felony prisoner from one county to another.
  • And there's also conveying prisoners to penitentiaries that the sheriffs will do.
  • There's a fee for conveying a felony prisoner from one county to another.
  • And some are paid more, some are paid less or not less felony prisoner from one county to felony prisoner
  • <00:15:26.880> that conveying prisoners to penitentiies that conveying prisoners to penitentiies
Summary: The committee met for its fourth budget subreview session focused on personnel, public retirements, and finance. Members approved the minutes from the prior meeting and then heard from Finance Cabinet staff on two main items: a $7.5 million request related to generator systems and a sheriff’s fees budget request. The generator request was described as a preventive, life-cycle replacement and capacity-enhancement effort for 26 generators serving Frankfort-area state buildings, intended to protect continuity of government and expand beyond basic emergency power to support continuity of services. Members asked detailed questions about how many generators would be replaced, the cost per unit, the scope of the study, and whether the work could be phased. Staff said the $7.5 million would cover a full evaluation and any resulting engineering/replacement work, but the exact number of replacements was not yet known. They estimated the initial study would cost about $500,000 to $750,000, would take six to nine months once funded, and would produce building-by-building recommendations. Staff also said typical generator life cycles vary widely, often around 15 to 20 years but sometimes longer depending on run hours and usage. The committee then reviewed sheriff’s fees, with the Division of Local Government explaining that the state reimburses counties for several statutory sheriff-related costs, especially court security, which accounts for more than 90% of the claims. Staff said the current budget base is about $20 million, while actual spending has been running above $23 million, leading to a $3.5 million growth request to align the base with projected spending and reduce the need for non-general fund expenditure (NGE) adjustments. Members asked about claim volume, county participation, reimbursement controls, and whether the request reflected growth or underfunding; staff said all 120 counties submit claims, volumes have been fairly steady, and reimbursements are governed by statute and signed monthly certifications. No votes were taken on the requests, and the meeting adjourned after questions concluded.
FL

Florida 2025 Regular Session

January 15, 2025 - 01:00 PM

Transcript Highlights:
  • And they will not be, I assume, anxious to go to prison.
  • They will not be, I assume, anxious to go to prison.
  • Under a level one, you can't ever go to prison.
  • You're not going to score enough points... ...you can't ever go to prison.
  • You're not going to score enough points to reach sentencing somebody to prison.
Summary: The Industries and Professional Activities Subcommittee met to hear a panel on the prosecution and enforcement of illegal gaming in Florida. The chair opened with a video showing seized machines at a Florida Gaming Control Commission warehouse and described the scale of illegal operations. Panelists included the commission’s executive director, local sheriffs and police officials, and state attorneys from several counties, who described widespread illegal slot-machine locations, often in strip malls or convenience-store-type settings, and said the machines are typically used in organized criminal activity rather than legitimate amusement gaming. Witnesses repeatedly said the current penalty structure is ineffective because possession and operation of illegal slot machines are generally second-degree misdemeanors, which they described as too minor to deter operators who can quickly reopen after paying fines or completing diversion. They said enforcement is resource-intensive, requiring undercover work, search warrants, machine seizure, storage, forensic review, and long prosecutions, often while the same operators reopen elsewhere. Several panelists cited associated crimes such as robberies, firearms offenses, prostitution, drug activity, human trafficking, and at least some homicides tied to illegal gaming locations. Members also asked about the difference between legal amusement devices and illegal slot machines, online gambling, illegal horse racing, local licensing and ordinances, and whether manufacturers or distributors could be pursued. The commission and prosecutors said legal slot machines are limited to specific regulated locations and that lawful amusement machines lack a material element of chance. They said many illegal machines are imported or reworked versions of gaming devices and that upstream accountability is difficult under current law. Panelists also discussed cooperation with licensed casinos, tribal gaming entities, and local governments, noting that some local ordinances have tried to permit or limit these businesses. The main policy takeaway from the panel was a call to increase penalties, likely to felony-level offenses, and to consider stronger forfeiture and enforcement tools. No vote or formal action was taken at the meeting, and the chair adjourned after thanking the panelists.
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

PSM Public Hearing 01-28-2026

Public Safety and Military Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • Uh, next we have testimony from Cat Brady, Community Alliance on Prisons. >> Welcome. >> Good afternoon
  • 3,668 people who are currently incarcerated by Hawaii, 799 of whom are serving time at corporate prison
  • Um, and so emergency preparedness for, um, public education and communications program provides a clear
  • And so, for example, organizing with food distribution, with food banks, and with faith-based programs
  • , if it's in statue, faith-based programs, if it's in statue, then<00:53:51.920> nonprofits<00
Keywords: 912, senate, all
Summary: The committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 2145, which would establish a statutory right for the public to record law enforcement activities in public. Supporters, including the Libertarian Party of Hawaii and the ACLU of Hawaii, said the bill would clarify First Amendment protections, reduce confusion, and provide a private right of action if the right is violated. Most written testimony was in support, while the Maui Police Department and Honolulu Police Department submitted opposition. A senator asked about existing court cases, and the ACLU witness said courts have consistently recognized a right to record officers in public so long as recording does not obstruct police activity. The committee then took up Senate Bill 2151 on emergency management. Testimony from the Office of Information Practices and HEMA focused on proposed changes to Chapter 127A, including limits on emergency powers and a two-thirds legislative override. Earthjustice and other supporters argued the bill was needed after the Hawaii Supreme Court’s Nakoa decision, which they said read emergency powers too broadly and could allow suspension of laws for long-term policy issues rather than true emergencies. HEMA opposed the restrictions, saying emergency managers need flexibility to respond to unknown, statewide crises such as tsunamis, hurricanes, war-related threats, and large disasters, and objected especially to limits on the governor’s ability to suspend public records requirements during emergencies. Several witnesses, including the Public First Law Center, said the bill was a step in the right direction but suggested amendments to better define emergencies and make clear the changes respond to the Nakoa decision. Committee members questioned whether the proposed limits would hinder disaster response and whether the legislature already has tools to override emergency proclamations. No votes or final actions were taken during the hearing.
MN

Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session

House Republican Press Conference 2/26/25

Transcript Highlights:
  • There are programs we have in Minnesota that I think are unparalleled across the country, and there is
  • we hear that term a lot, and we automatically jump to the assumption that we're going to create a prison
  • <00:07:21.479> that<00:07:21.879> concept How much money do you think the grant program
  • out of a school not create a prison out of a school not nobody<00:08:08.159> wants<00:08:08.520
  • I mean this this seems like it program I mean this this seems like it would<00:08:49.240> be<
Keywords: 1183, house
NH

New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

House Session (04/10/2025)

New Hampshire House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • . prisons. prisons.
  • This program not only helps prison.
  • This amendment cuts that program program program entirely.<04:37:41.439> Who<04:37:41.760>
  • program will not be able to continue. program will not be able to continue.
  • many of these essential programs. many of these essential programs.
Keywords: 1189, house, all
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

FL House Floor Session - 2025-03-27 (9:00AM Session)

Florida House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • I work very closely with the L Center for Autism, and they have a wonderful adult training program.
  • When we are... ...to validate this programming. That's a fiscal.
  • There's administrative cost, possibly, that could go along with this program.
  • I don't want this to be silent as to how our school districts will implement this program.
  • Our school districts need to... ...our school districts will implement this program.
Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opening prayer, Pledge of Allegiance, and several member introductions recognizing visiting groups and resolutions, including Blood Clot Awareness Month and Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week. The chamber then moved to a special order calendar and considered a series of bills, with most measures passing overwhelmingly after brief explanations and debate. Among the early bills, SB 88 on utility terrain vehicles passed 32-5, allowing local governments to opt in to limited street use of UTVs under specified safety rules; SB 102 on exceptional student education passed 36-0 to create a workforce credential program for students with autism or modified curricula; SB 106 on exploitation of vulnerable adults passed 37-0; SB 130 on compensation for wrongful incarceration passed 38-0 after expanding filing timelines and easing restrictions on compensation claims; and SB 158 on diagnostic and supplemental breast examinations passed 38-0 to eliminate cost sharing for follow-up breast imaging under the state employee health plan. The most extended debate centered on SB 234, which sought to strengthen penalties and clarify the law regarding violent resistance to law enforcement officers and offenses against officers. Supporters argued the bill was needed after the Jason Raynor case to prevent defendants from using claims about an officer’s legal duty to justify violence, while opponents raised concerns about removing “good faith” language, potential impacts on Fourth Amendment protections, racial profiling, and the bill’s mandatory life sentence for manslaughter of an officer. A Jones amendment to restore “good faith” failed, and after further debate the sponsor temporarily postponed the bill without a final vote. The Senate also passed SB 262 on trust code technical changes (36-0), SB 274 designating roadways for Harris Rosen and Geraldine Thompson (38-0) and opening the board for 37 co-sponsors, SB 280 creating an enforcement mechanism for candidate party-affiliation qualifications (38-0), and SB 296 repealing the statewide middle and high school start-time mandate in favor of local decision-making and reporting requirements (38-0). Later, SB 356 designated January 27 as International Holocaust Remembrance Day in Florida, with supporters emphasizing the need to confront antisemitism and preserve Holocaust memory; the bill was introduced and debated, with the transcript ending during remarks by President Gaetz about the recent Holocaust memorial unveiling. Throughout the meeting, senators also used debate to highlight broader policy themes such as autism workforce inclusion, breast cancer screening, wrongful incarceration reform, school district flexibility, and honoring community leaders through road designations. The chamber’s actions were largely affirmative, with several unanimous votes and one notable postponed bill after substantial disagreement."}】}]}}```
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Floor Session May 27th, 2025

California House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • It is a year-long learning program designed to engage students and prepare them for professional roles
  • At a time when the federal government is dismantling environmental programs and defunding scientific
  • research, this bill ensures that California's cap-and-trade program continues to be informed by the best
  • crimes that involves the community colleges, the adult systems, the youth programs, all those things
  • And now we want to take that tool ...the goal of keeping people out of prison.
Summary: The Assembly met in session, established a quorum, and opened with a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. Members then moved through guest introductions, including students and fellows from California Lutheran University, UC Merced’s CAPE program, the Maddy Institute, and Madera High School’s Madtown Robotics Team 1323, which was recognized for multiple robotics world championships. The chamber also adopted an adjournment in memory and took up the daily file. Several bills and resolutions were considered and passed, including AB 1390 on school board compensation thresholds, AB 1338 on air district cost recovery for fence-line air monitoring, AB 648 on community college housing, AB 1207 on cap-and-trade price ceilings, ACR 66 recognizing Skin Cancer Awareness Month, AB 49 on keeping ICE out of public schools, AB 317 on a CEQA exemption for certain single-family homes, AB 527 on geothermal exploratory wells, AB 665 on the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation ombudsman report, AB 940 creating quantum innovation zones, AB 1021 on workforce housing for education agencies, AB 1112 on property tax apportionment in Rancho Mirage, AB 1318 on nonprofit eligibility for public funding, and AB 1470 on using student housing loan funds for affordable housing in downtowns and commercial districts. Most measures passed with broad support; AB 49 and AB 1318 were urgency bills and passed with the required higher vote threshold. The floor also adopted H.R. 40, declaring May 25 as Rosenda’s Day to honor a teen killed by a drunk driver, and H.R. 42, recognizing May as Behavioral Health Awareness Month. Both drew extensive personal testimony from members about mental health, suicide, substance use, and the need to reduce stigma and expand access to care. Additional health-related bills passed, including AB 408 creating a physician health and wellness program, AB 546 requiring coverage for HEPA purifiers for certain enrollees after wildfire disasters, AB 967 expediting licenses for out-of-state physicians, and AB 968 expanding pharmacist authority to provide non-hormonal contraception. The Assembly also debated AB 1056 on phasing out gill net fishing and AB 1376 on limiting juvenile probation terms, with supporters framing both as conservation or rehabilitation measures and opponents warning about economic harm or public safety concerns. Both bills ultimately passed. Throughout the session, members repeatedly emphasized public safety, education, housing, climate, health care access, and support for immigrant and youth communities, with recorded roll-call votes and voice votes taken on each measure.
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

FL House Floor Session - 2026-03-06 (10:00AM Session)

Florida House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • training program that's actually leading to a job. ...a training program that's actually leading to
  • that you have told me, 'I went to the prison this weekend.
  • I went to the prison this week.'
  • that you have told me, 'I went to the prison this weekend.
  • I went to the prison this week.'
Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and recognized several introductions and memorials, including a resolution designating August 9, 2026, as Bob Graham Day and a moment of silence for firefighter Roger Timmy Miley. The chamber then moved through a long special-order calendar, with several bills substituted with House companions and adopted by voice vote or recorded vote. Early measures included a tax conformity bill tied to federal Internal Revenue Code changes, which passed 34-0, and a Medicaid/public assistance bill that drew extensive debate over work requirements, fraud reduction, behavioral health services, and SNAP/EBT reforms. Amendments offered by Senators Berman and Osgood to condition or soften the work and photo-ID provisions were rejected, and the underlying bill was placed on the third-reading calendar after lengthy questioning about implementation, exemptions, and eligibility effects. The Senate also passed bills on computer science education and AI instruction, a Parkinson’s disease registry public-records exemption and registry update, designation of the SS American Victory as Florida’s official state flagship, electronic payments for local governments, repeal of the legal-tender sunset for gold and silver, public-records protections for gold/silver custodians and stablecoin-related entities, a Florida stablecoin pilot program, and local government budget transparency/spending measures. Most of these measures were adopted after minor amendments or technical substitutions, with votes generally ranging from 31-3 to 34-0. The chamber also recognized the Florida Channel’s 30 years of legislative coverage. Later, the Senate approved a digital voyeurism bill expanding the reasonable-expectation-of-privacy definition to include private fenced yards, and an insurance customer representative licensing bill allowing high school students to complete insurance/personal finance coursework and later qualify for licensure. The final major item was a medical freedom bill that would expand parental vaccine information requirements, add a conscience-based exemption to immunization mandates, allow behind-the-counter ivermectin for adults, and repeal the sunset on the mRNA mandate prohibition; two amendments clarifying anti-kickback rules and requiring vaccine information to include risks, benefits, safety, and efficacy were adopted, while questions from Senators Smith and Massullo focused on public-health impacts and the content of the required materials. The transcript ends during discussion of that bill, with no final vote shown in the excerpt.
HI

Hawaii 2025 Regular Session

PSM Public Hearing 01-27-2025

Public Safety and Military Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • Each year, more than 600,000 people are released from state and federal prisons, and many times these
  • Each year, more than 600,000 people are released from state and federal prisons, and many times these
  • For example, many people in jails and prisons in the United States have mental health issues that are
  • For example, many people in jails and prisons in the United States have mental health issues that are
  • the the atmosphere and jail or prison the the atmosphere and the<00:12:48.120> physical<00:12
Keywords: 912, senate, all
Summary: The Senate Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs heard several bills on January 27, 2025. SB 24, relating to identification, would require the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to help inmates obtain civil ID cards and other vital documents for reentry. Testimony was overwhelmingly in support from DCR, the Hawaiʻi Correctional System Oversight Commission, DHS, the Hawaiʻi Disability Rights Center, health and youth advocates, and others, with comments emphasizing that reentry should begin on day one and that lack of identification is a major barrier to housing and employment. A senator asked about the low number of IDs issued in 2022 and DCR said it already has a satellite ID card machine at Hālawa and plans to procure more for other facilities. The committee recommended passage of SB 24 as is. SB 474, relating to psychologists, would require DCR clinical psychologists to obtain licensure within 10 years of employment and would sunset in 2035. DCR strongly supported the bill, citing a severe staffing shortage, low exam passage rates, and many vacant positions, while the Hawaiʻi Psychological Association expressed concerns and one testifier argued psychologists serving incarcerated people should be licensed before employment. Committee members questioned whether the 10-year period was too long and discussed alternative solutions such as pay incentives and shortage differentials. The committee ultimately recommended passage with amendments, shortening the licensure period to 5 years, moving the sunset to July 1, 2030, and making other technical changes. SB 353, relating to emergency management, would clarify emergency authority, bar suspension of public records or vital statistics requests during emergencies, define “severe warning,” and allow the legislature or city councils to terminate a state of emergency. DHS and HMA opposed the bill, arguing it could limit executive flexibility and cut off access to the major disaster fund, while supporters included public-interest and good-government groups. The committee discussed whether legislative termination authority could interfere with ongoing emergency response and recovery, with the bill’s sponsor explaining it was aimed more at situations where emergency conditions have ended, such as prolonged COVID-era proclamations. The committee recommended passage with amendments, including a delayed effective date and committee report notes referencing DHS request data and HMA’s opposition. The committee also heard SB 259, relating to recordkeeping for secondhand dealers and pawn brokers, and SB 37, relating to recordings of law enforcement activities. SB 259 was set for amendment and deferred decision-making to January 29, 2025, so the committee could seek input from HPD. SB 37 drew support from the Legal Clinic and other advocates, with a clarifying question about civil enforcement actions, and the committee recommended passage with amendments and a delayed effective date. The meeting concluded with the committee adopting its recommendations and adjourning.