Bill > HB1565

This bill establishes a working group within the judiciary, which is the branch of government responsible for the court system, to improve how family court processes handle cases involving children in the child welfare system, a system designed to protect children from abuse and neglect. This new working group will build upon the recommendations of a previous group called the "malama ohana working group" and will examine how other states provide legal services to foster youth, potentially including site visits to learn from their practices. The working group will be composed of judges, legal professionals, representatives from relevant government departments and law schools, and crucially, individuals with lived experience in the child welfare system, including youth and parents. Their goal is to ensure better legal representation for youth and their relatives, reduce court delays, and ultimately create a more trauma-informed and community-based child welfare system. The bill also appropriates funds for the working group's operations, including compensation for members with lived experience, and requires them to submit a report with recommendations, including plans for a pilot program, to the legislature by 2028, after which the working group will cease to exist.

Budget and Finance, Housing and Urban Affairs, Justice

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=1565&year=2026