STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1142

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 727

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 727, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Establish a three-year women's court pilot program in the circuit court of the Second and Fifth Circuits, which is intended to acknowledge the distinct pathways that lead women into the criminal justice system and address their individualized needs; and

(2) Require the Third Circuit of the Judiciary and Big Island Drug Court to conduct an interim study to establish a blueprint for a women's court pilot program in the Third Circuit.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of the Public Defender; Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the County of Maui; Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition; Community Alliance on Prisons; and nine individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Judiciary and Department of Health.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 727, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Chair