RELATING TO CHILD WELFARE SERVICES.

SB2678

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2678

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to child welfare services
.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

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SECTION
1.
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The legislature finds that

the malama ohana working group e
stablished
by Act 86, Session Laws of Hawaii 2023, was tasked with recommending
transformative changes to the State's existing child welfare system.

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For fifteen months, the seventeen
working group
members, who
represented
those serving youth,
as well as
youth and families throughout the State, together with
hundreds of community members, opened their hearts and listened deeply to the
stories of lived experience in the child welfare system.
�
They
worked to
develop recommendations to establish a child welfare system
that is trauma-informed, sustains a community-based partnership, and responds
to the needs of children and families in the system and the community.

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The legislature further finds that the result
of this work was
a powerful vision for transforming how Hawaii supports
families and protects children.
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Among the many recommendations to move
toward this vision was to strengthen the family court process for child welfare
cases.
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This would include reducing
delays in court proceedings, using specialty courts where applicable, and
ensuring access to excellent legal representation for relatives of youth in the
system as well as for the youth themselves.
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Some youth reported feeling they were given no information about their
case and their family and that they were left out of the decision-making
process.
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They claimed they were
disregarded when they reported that they were unsafe and did not feel their
rights were protected.

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Accordingly,
the purpose of this Act is to
establish
and appropriate funds for a working group to improve family court processes,
including access to legal representation for youth in the child welfare system.

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SECTION
2.
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(a)
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There is established
within the judiciary for administrative purposes a working group for legal
services for youth in the child welfare system.

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(b)
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The
working group shall:

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(1)
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Review
and consider pathways for implementation of recommendations of the malama ohana
working group, established pursuant to Act 86, Session Laws of Hawaii 2023, as
they relate to the court process, including counsel for youth; and

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(2)
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Examine
practices in other jurisdictions that provide different forms of legal services
for foster youth and
have one or more members conduct at least one site
visit to selected jurisdictions in one or more states to identify possible
practices to implement in the State.

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(c)
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The
working group
shall be comprised of the following members:

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(1)
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O
ne
district family court judge of the first circuit and one district family court
judge from any other circuit,
who
shall serve as co-chairs and invite the additional members to partipate in the
working group;

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(2)
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A
supreme court justice or the justice's designee
;

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(3)
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M
embers
of the judiciary who serve
d or
currently serve
on the child welfare

court calendar;

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(4)
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A representative from the family law division
of the department of the attorney general;

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(5)
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A representative from the department of human
services child welfare services branch;

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(6)
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A
representative who serves as a
guardian ad litem in child welfare cases;

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(7)
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A representative from the William S. Richardson
school of

law at the university of
Hawaii at Manoa;

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(8)
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Two
representatives of the
malama ohana working group, who shall be
designated by the co-chairs of the malama
ohana working group
;

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(9)
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A representative from the HI H.O.P.E.S. Youth
Leadership Boards of the HI H.O.P.E.S. Initiative under EPIC
ʻ
Ohana, Inc.;

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(10)
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Three
or more
experts with lived expertise in navigating

the state child welfare system while minors;
and

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(11)
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A
parent
with lived experience in the state child welfare

system
.

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(d)
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The working group shall
submit a report of its findings and
recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no
later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of
2028.
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The report shall include
plans for a pilot program to test a
model for delivering counsel services to youth of a selected age range in a
selected jurisdiction within the State.

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(e)
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The working group shall cease to exist on June 30, 2028.

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SECTION
3.
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There is appropriated out of the
general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of
$ or so much
thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the working group
established pursuant to this Act, including for the members of the working
group to make site visits and to assist with the report drafting.

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The sum
appropriated shall be expended by the judiciary for the purposes of this Act.

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SECTION 4.
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This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Keiki
Caucus; Judiciary; Child Welfare System; Legal Services for Youth; Working
Group; Appropriation

Description:

Establishes a working group within the Judiciary
to improve family court processes,
including access to legal representation for youth in the child welfare system
.
�
Appropriates funds for the working group.

The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.