SB952 • 2026

RELATING TO CHILD WELFARE SERVICES.

Budget Children

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor: SAN BUENAVENTURA, AQUINO, CHANG, FEVELLA, GABBARD, HASHIMOTO, INOUYE, KANUHA, KIDANI, MCKELVEY, Richards
Last action: 2026-04-02
Official status: Received notice of the discharge of all House Conferees (Hse. Com. No. 457).
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

RELATING TO CHILD WELFARE SERVICES.

What This Bill Does

RELATING TO CHILD WELFARE SERVICES.
DHS; OWR; Child Welfare System; Diversion and Intervention; Pilot Program; Report; Appropriation ($) Requires the Department of Human Services, in collaboration with the Office of Wellness and Resilience, to design a five-year Child Welfare System Diversion and Intervention Pilot Program to support families and children involved, at risk of involvement, or at risk of reinvolvement with Child Welfare Services.
Specifies that the Department of Human Services shall implement and administer the pilot program.
Allows the Department to contract with public and private entities to provide necessary services.

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: SB952 HD1 THE SENATE S.B.

SB952 HD1 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
952 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 S.D.
2 STATE OF HAWAII H.D.

SD1

Hawaii published version SD1

Plain English: SB952 SD1 THE SENATE S.B.

SB952 SD1 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
952 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 S.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CHILD WELFARE SERVICES .

SD2

Hawaii published version SD2

Plain English: SB952 SD2 THE SENATE S.B.

SB952 SD2 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
952 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 S.D.
2 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CHILD WELFARE SERVICES .

Bill History

2026-04-02 S
Received notice of the discharge of all House Conferees (Hse. Com. No. 457).
2026-04-01 H
House Conferee(s) discharged.
2026-03-20 H
Received notice of all Senate conferees being discharged (Sen. Com. No. 409).
2026-03-20 S
Senate Conferee(s) discharged.
2025-12-08 D
Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
2025-04-24 H
Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 876).
2025-04-24 S
Conference committee meeting scheduled for 04-25-25 1:30PM; Conference Room 329.
2025-04-24 S
Senate Conferees Appointed: San Buenaventura Chair; Inouye Co-Chair; Hashimoto, Fevella.
2025-04-22 S
Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 782).
2025-04-21 H
House Conferees Appointed: Marten, Morikawa Co-Chairs; Kapela, Olds, Garcia.
2025-04-10 H
Received notice of disagreement (Sen. Com. No. 779).
2025-04-10 S
Senate disagrees with House amendments.
2025-04-10 S
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 664).
2025-04-08 H
Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Marten excused (2). Transmitted to Senate.
2025-04-04 H
Forty-eight (48) hours notice Tuesday, 04-08-25.
2025-04-04 H
Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1980) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Third Reading.
2025-03-28 H
The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 14 Ayes: Representative(s) Yamashita, Takenouchi, Grandinetti, Holt, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lamosao, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Templo, Alcos, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Hussey, Ward.
2025-03-27 H
Bill scheduled for decision making on Friday, 03-28-25 1:59PM in conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2025-03-27 H
The committee(s) on FIN recommend(s) that the measure be deferred until 03-28-25.
2025-03-24 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Thursday, 03-27-25 3:30PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2025-03-13 H
Passed Second Reading and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Holt, Ward, Woodson excused (4).
2025-03-13 H
Reported from HSH (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1211), recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.
2025-03-11 H
The committee on HSH recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Marten, Olds, Amato, Chun, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Takayama, Takenouchi, Alcos, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.
2025-03-07 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by HSH on Tuesday, 03-11-25 10:00AM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2025-03-06 H
Referred to HSH, FIN, referral sheet 19
2025-03-06 H
Pass First Reading
2025-03-04 H
Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 227) in amended form (SD 2).
2025-03-04 S
Report adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.
2025-02-27 S
48 Hrs. Notice 03-04-25.
2025-02-27 S
Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 766) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading, as amended (SD 2).
2025-02-19 S
The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WAM were as follows: 13 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, Aquino, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
2025-02-14 S
The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-19-25 10:02AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
2025-02-14 S
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.
2025-02-14 S
Reported from HHS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 627) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
2025-02-12 S
The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HHS were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, Aquino, Hashimoto, Keohokalole, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
2025-02-10 S
The committee(s) on HHS deferred the measure until 02-12-25 1:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.
2025-02-04 S
The committee(s) on HHS has scheduled a public hearing on 02-10-25 1:20PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.
2025-01-23 S
Referred to HHS, WAM.
2025-01-21 S
Passed First Reading.
2025-01-17 S
Introduced.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO CHILD WELFARE SERVICES.
DHS; OWR; Child Welfare System; Diversion and Intervention; Pilot Program; Report; Appropriation ($)
Requires the Department of Human Services, in collaboration with the Office of Wellness and Resilience, to design a five-year Child Welfare System Diversion and Intervention Pilot Program to support families and children involved, at risk of involvement, or at risk of reinvolvement with Child Welfare Services. Specifies that the Department of Human Services shall implement and administer the pilot program. Allows the Department to contract with public and private entities to provide necessary services. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

SB952

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

952

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

Relating
to Child Welfare Services
.

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

����
SECTION 1.
�
The legislature
finds that more initiatives must be established to address the unmet needs of children
and families in the child welfare system.

����
The legislature also finds that the malama
ohana working group was established within the office of wellness and
resilience to seek, design, and recommend transformative changes to the State's
existing child welfare system.
�
In their
report submitted to the 2025 legislature, the malama ohana working group
recommended establishment of preventative programs and comprehensive services
to reduce the risk of families entering the child welfare system.

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The legislature further finds that the
child welfare services branch of the department of human services has struggled
to fill vacant positions, resulting in high caseloads for existing staff.

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The legislature also finds that other
states have been successful in reducing the number of families involved in
their child welfare systems by implementing innovative programs that include
peer support and system navigation; resources and financial assistance; and
parenting and family-strengthening classes.

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Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to require
the office of wellness and resilience to establish a two-year child welfare
system diversion and intervention pilot program to provide services for
families and children involved, at risk of involvement, or at the risk or
reinvolvement, with child welfare services.

����
SECTION 2.
�

(a)
�
The office of wellness and
resilience shall design, implement, and administer, a child welfare system
diversion and intervention pilot program.
�

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(b)
�
The
pilot program shall include:

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(1)
�
Trained,
trauma-informed peer support navigators with lived experience to assist with
enrollment in public benefit initiatives, as well as community-based and
cultural programming;

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(2)
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Financial
assistance and provision of resources for food, clothing, hygiene, housing,
parenting, childcare, household, and transportation needs; and

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(3)
�
A
trauma-informed intervention program that improves caregiver-child
relationships and parenting skills through teaching and coaching on positive
communication, and child behavior management, calming, and emotional regulation
strategies for both the caregiver and child.

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(c)
�

The office of wellness and resilience shall submit a report of its
findings and recommendations for the child welfare system diversion and
intervention pilot program, including any proposed legislation, to the
legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular
session of
2027.

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(d)
�
The office of wellness and resilience may
contract with public and private entities to design, implement, and administer
the pilot program.

����
(e)
�

The pilot program shall cease to exist July 1, 2027.

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SECTION 3.
�

There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii
the sum of $1,714,292 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year
2025-2026 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal
year 2026-2027 to design, implement, and administer a child welfare system
diversion and intervention pilot program pursuant to this Act, including
contracting with public and private entities to provide necessary services.

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The sums

appropriated shall be expended by the office of wellness and
resilience for the purposes of this Act.

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SECTION 4.
�

This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

OWR;
Child Welfare System; Diversion and Intervention; Pilot Program; Report;
Appropriations

Description:

Requires the
Office of Wellness and Resilience to design, implement, and administer a
two-year Child Welfare System Diversion and Intervention Pilot Program to
support families and children involved, at risk of involvement, or at risk of
reinvolvement with child welfare services.
�

Allows the office to contract with public and private entities to
provide necessary services.
�
Requires a report
to the Legislature.
�
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.