Bill > SB788

This bill establishes a two-year pilot program in the First Circuit's Probate and Family Courts to fund guardianship and conservatorship-related court resources for respondents who cannot afford them. The resources include three key components: a "kokua kanawai" (an independent investigator who reviews the respondent's personal circumstances), a guardian ad litem (who represents the respondent's best interests), and a professional evaluation of the respondent's alleged impairment. The pilot program aims to make court proceedings more equitable by ensuring that individuals undergoing guardianship or conservatorship proceedings have access to critical resources regardless of their financial situation. The Judiciary will be required to submit detailed reports to the Governor and Legislature after each year of the program, including information about the number of people served, the resources provided, and recommendations for the program's future. The bill appropriates funds from the state's general revenues to support the program in both the Probate and Family Courts, with the program set to begin on April 23, 2057. The underlying motivation for the bill stems from a working group's findings that many respondents are unable to access important court-ordered resources due to financial constraints, which can impact the court's ability to make fully informed decisions.

Budget and Finance, Justice

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=788&year=2026