CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 71

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: S.B. No. 694

H.D. 1

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir and Madam:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 694, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE DETENTION OF MINORS,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to prohibit minors from being held in jails, lockups, or prisons for adults, except temporarily under certain circumstances.

Your Committee on Conference finds that youth are more likely to experience abuse, commit suicide, and be exposed to prolonged periods of isolation if they enter an adult jail, lockup, or prison. Additionally, youth are five times more likely to be victimized in an adult facility than a juvenile facility. This measure will protect minors from the severe harms they face when placed in adult jails and prisons.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Restoring existing statutory language that requires the official in charge of a facility for the detention of adult offenders or persons charged with crime to inform the court immediately when a minor who is or appears to be under eighteen years of age is received at the facility;

(2) Making it effective upon its approval; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 694, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 694, H.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ DAVID A. TARNAS Chair

____________________________ KARL RHOADS Chair