Bill Text: HI HB864 | 2024 | Regular Session | Amended

Hawaii House Bill 864

Amended

Bill Title: Relating To Criminal Justice.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 11-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2023-12-11 - Carried over to 2024 Regular Session. [HB864 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2024-HB864-Amended.html

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	864
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE.

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that Micronesians, Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders, and other people of color are overrepresented in the State's juvenile justice system. Intergenerational trauma, cultural disconnection, homelessness, and other factors can drive and contribute to juvenile offending. The legislature believes that to best address these disparities, reduce recidivism, and maximize rehabilitation, juvenile justice proceedings should be culturally responsive processes that address the social, psychological, emotional, and physical underlying causes of crime.

Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to establish a four-year Pacific cultural court pilot program in the family court of the first circuit. The program will allow family court judges to give at-risk children of Polynesian and Pacific Islander descent the option of participating in an alternative sentencing program that relies on family and community involvement, and culturally responsive approaches, to reduce recidivism.

SECTION 2. (a) There is established within the judiciary a four-year Pacific cultural court pilot program, to be designed and administered by the senior judge of the family court of the first circuit. The program shall:

(1) Attempt to maximize rehabilitation and minimize recidivism for juvenile offenders, including juveniles of Micronesian, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander descent;

(2) Incorporate culturally responsive practices into juvenile court proceedings; and

(3) Take inspiration and ideas from New Zealand's Rangatahi courts, where juvenile court proceedings incorporate Maori and Pasifika cultural practices.

(b) The senior judge shall submit a report of the judge's findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation and recommendations on whether the program should be made permanent, to the legislature and the chief justice of the supreme court of Hawaii no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2028.

SECTION 3. 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 2023-2024 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 for the Pacific cultural court pilot program established pursuant to this Act, including the establishment of one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) program coordinator position.

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

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on June 30, 3000.

Report Title:

Judiciary; Juvenile Justice; Family Court; Pilot Program; Appropriation

Description:

Establishes and appropriates moneys for a four-year Pacific cultural court pilot program in the family court of the first circuit. Effective 6/30/3000. (HD1)

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