HB 1263 Hawaii House · 2025 Regular Session

RELATING TO CORRECTIONS.

HB 1263 establishes a Rehabilitation and Re-entry Services Task Force within the corrections system. The bill requires this task force to develop and implement re-entry programs for individuals transitioning from incarceration, and mandates regular reports to the Legislature on its progress and recommendations. It also appropriates state funds to support the task force's operations and program development. This bill directly affects state corrections agencies, parole services, and formerly incarcerated individuals seeking support during re-entry. The task force’s work will begin after the bill's effective date of July 1, 3000.

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 22, 2025 Last action Feb 6, 2025

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What changed between versions

HB1263 → HB1263_HD1 · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill replaces a plan to build a new jail through a public-private partnership with a moratorium on construction and the creation of a task force focused on rehabilitation and re-entry services. The changes shift the legislative approach from expanding jail capacity to addressing the root causes of incarceration, such as homelessness and lack of treatment, while pausing new facility planning for three years.

Scope change

The bill's scope changed from authorizing construction of a new correctional facility to establishing a task force to review rehabilitation practices and recommending policy changes to reduce reliance on jails.

REQUIREMENT

Removed provisions allowing the department to issue requests for proposals or enter contracts for public-private partnerships to plan, finance, design, or construct a new correctional facility.

Added a requirement to establish a Rehabilitation and Re-entry Services Task Force composed of representatives from government agencies, community organizations, and justice-impacted individuals to review policies and make recommendations for improving rehabilitation and reducing incarceration.

TIMELINE

Modified the timeline by establishing a moratorium on constructing new correctional facilities through public-private partnerships from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2028, and requiring the task force to submit interim and final reports to the legislature.

FISCAL

Added an appropriation of unspecified funds from the state's general revenues for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 to support the work of the new task force.

DEFINITION

Modified the definition of a new correctional facility by removing the specific moratorium dates and replacing them with a task force mandate, effectively changing how facility planning is defined and regulated.

ELIGIBILITY

Added eligibility criteria for task force members, requiring specific representation from Hawaiian affairs, legislative committees, mental health and justice system advisors, harm reduction centers, community organizations, and individuals with lived experience of the justice system.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 6, 2025

Committee

Reported from PBS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 243) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.

lower

Feb 5, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on PBS recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Belatti, Hashem, Lamosao, Poepoe, Shimizu, Souza; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Iwamoto; Noes: none; and 3 Excused: Representative(s) Ichiyama, Morikawa, Woodson.

lower

Jan 27, 2025

Committee

Referred to PBS, JHA, FIN, referral sheet 4

lower

Jan 23, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

Jan 22, 2025

Introduced

Pending introduction.

lower

4 primary · 0 co-sponsors