Bill > SB861

This bill authorizes the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center to transmit expungement orders to the Judiciary, addressing a legal gap identified in Act 159 from the 2023 legislative session. Specifically, the bill amends Section 831-3.2 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes to explicitly allow the transmission of expungement orders from the Attorney General to the Judiciary. The purpose is to enable the court to automatically seal or remove publicly accessible electronic records related to arrests or cases for which an expungement order has been issued. Currently, the Data Center lacks statutory authorization to release these orders, which prevents the full implementation of Act 159's requirement to remove such information from public databases by July 1, 2025. The bill will take effect on that same date, providing a clear legal pathway for the Data Center to share expungement orders with the court, thereby supporting the broader goal of helping individuals clear their criminal records and reduce barriers to employment, housing, and other opportunities.

Justice

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=861&year=2026