STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1531

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 727

H.D. 1

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 727, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE WOMEN'S COURT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to extend and appropriate moneys for the Women's Court pilot program.

More specifically, the measure:

(1) Makes permanent the Women's Court pilot program in the First Circuit; and

(2) Establishes a three-year Women's Court pilot program in the Kona division of the Third Circuit.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Judiciary, Department of Health, Maui County Department of the Prosecuting Attorney, State Council on Mental Health, League of Women Voters of Hawaii, Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition, Community Alliance on Prisons, and one individual.

Your Committee finds that establishing a permanent Women's Court in the First Circuit and a Women's Court pilot program in the Third Circuit will help reduce recidivism by providing trauma‑informed, gender-responsive treatment programs for incarcerated women in the State.

Your Committee notes that the Department of Health requests $221,788 to support the Kona division pilot program, including:

(1) $145,000 for one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) Clinical Psychologist; and

(2) $76,788 for one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) Social Worker or Human Services professional.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the appropriations to unspecified amounts to facilitate further discussion on the measure.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 727, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 727, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair