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HB2181
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H.B. NO.
2181
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026
STATE OF HAWAII
A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING
TO THE JUDICIARY
.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
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SECTION 1.
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Chapter 601, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as
follows:
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"
�601-
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Automated court appearance reminder
system; requirements.
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(a)
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No later than July 1, 2027, the judiciary shall develop, implement, and
administer an automated court appearance reminder system that will generate and
transmit text message or electronic mail notifications to certain persons who
are required to appear in court at a future date.
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(b)
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The automated court appearance reminder system shall:
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(1)
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Be used in all
traffic and criminal cases in the district, family, and circuit courts; and
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(2)
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Generate a text
message or electronic mail notification for each scheduled future court
appearance that:
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(A)
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Is
transmitted to the recipient no later than twenty-four hours prior to the
recipient's scheduled court date and time; provided that if the court is unable
to schedule the future court appearance more than twenty-four hours in advance,
then the text message or electronic mail notification shall be transmitted to
the recipient as soon as possible after the court appearance is scheduled; and
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(B)
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Includes
the following information:
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(i)
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The
name of the person who is required to appear in court;
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(ii)
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The
case number of the matter in which the person is required to appear;
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(iii)
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The
date, time, and location of the scheduled court appearance;
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(iv)
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For
court appearances that can be attended virtually, provide the link to the
virtual court appearance in, at least, the final reminder sent before the
appearance;
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(v)
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A
recommendation that the person make a plan to attend court, including marking
their calendar, setting an alarm, and arranging for transportation, time off
from school or work, or childcare, as applicable; and
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(vi)
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The
potential consequences that may result if the person fails to appear in court
at the scheduled date and time, such as the issuance of a bench warrant for the
person's arrest.
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(c)
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The automated court appearance reminder
system may generate and transmit multiple successive text message or electronic
mail notifications for each scheduled future court appearance, but the timing
of the last text message or electronic mail notification shall comply with the
requirements of subsection (b)(2)(A).
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(d)
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The judiciary shall consult with the intake
services center division of the department of public safety or its successor
agency with respect to the design of the automated court appearance reminder
system and any additional elements not specified by this section that should be
considered for inclusion.
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(e)
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The judiciary may contract with a third party
to develop, implement, and administer the automated court appearance reminder
system.
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SECTION
2
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Section 803-6, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended as follows:
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1.
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By amending subsection (a) to read:
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"(a)
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At or before the time of making an arrest,
the person shall declare that the person is an officer of justice, if such is
the case.
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If the person has a warrant
the person should show it; or if the person makes the arrest without warrant in
any of the cases in which it is authorized by law, the person should give the
party arrested clearly to understand for what cause the person undertakes to
make the arrest, and shall require the party arrested to submit and be taken to
the police station or judge.
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The
person shall note in the arrest record the arrestee's mobile telephone number
or a mobile telephone number at which the arrestee may be reliably contacted.
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This done, the arrest is complete."
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2.
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By amending subsection (c) to read:
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"(c)
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The citation shall contain:
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(1)
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The name and
current address of the offender[
;
]
, including the offender's mobile
telephone number or a mobile telephone number at which the offender may be
reliably contacted;
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(2)
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The last four
digits of the offender's social security number;
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(3)
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A description of
the offender;
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(4)
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The nature of the
offense;
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(5)
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The time and date
of the offense;
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(6)
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A notice of time
and date for court appearance;
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(7)
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The signature and
badge number of the officer;
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(8)
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The signature of
the offender agreeing to court appearance;
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(9)
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Any remarks; and
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(10)
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A notice directing
the offender to appear at the time and place designated to stand trial for the
offense indicated and a notice that failure to obey the citation may result in
a fine or imprisonment, or both."
SECTION 3.
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There is appropriated out of the general
revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $
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or so much thereof as may be
necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the judiciary to develop, implement,
and administer the automated court appearance reminder system required by
section 1 of this Act.
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SECTION 4.
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New statutory material is underscored.
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SECTION 5.
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This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
INTRODUCED BY:
_____________________________
Report Title:
Judiciary;
Court Appearances; Automated Reminder System; Appropriation
Description:
Requires
the Judiciary to develop, implement, and administer an automated court
appearance reminder system that generates text message or electronic mail notifications
for upcoming court appearances in certain types of cases.
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Appropriates funds.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.