SB 1028 Hawaii Senate · 2025 Regular Session

RELATING TO YOUTH FEES AND FINES.

Summary

Prohibits the assessment of any fees, fines, or court costs against a person who was adjudicated for an offense committed during the person's minority, or against the person's parent or guardian, and discharges all related debt obligations assessed before the effective date of the Act. Limits court-ordered community service for a minor to no more than seventy-two hours. Repeals certain penalties imposed on parents, guardians, or other persons associated with unaccompanied children in streets and unmarried minors in dance halls. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Issues: ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

House Passage

Apr 2025

Governor

Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Last action Apr 10, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB1028_HD2 → SB1028_SD1 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill amends Hawaii traffic laws to allow courts to substitute community service for fines, fees, and court costs when a minor under 18 is adjudicated for a traffic offense, or when the minor's parent or guardian is charged for the offense. The changes apply to multiple traffic statutes including DUI, reckless driving, and hit-and-run cases, ensuring that youth and their families are not financially penalized for youthful mistakes. This matters because it addresses the disproportionate impact of court costs on Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and Black youth who are more likely to be unable to afford these fees.

Scope change

Expanded to explicitly include parents or guardians who are charged for a minor's traffic offense, and broadened applicability to various traffic-related statutes including DUI, habitual DUI, and underage drinking driving.

ELIGIBILITY

Added eligibility for parents or guardians to receive community service in lieu of financial penalties when charged for a minor's traffic offense.

REQUIREMENT

Modified sentencing requirements in multiple traffic statutes to allow courts to order up to 72 hours of community service instead of fines, fees, or court costs for minors.

Modified DUI and habitual DUI sentencing to include community service as an alternative to financial penalties for minors, while maintaining adult penalties unchanged.

Modified driver education assessment fees and surcharges to allow community service alternatives for minors charged with traffic offenses.

Added specific language to multiple statutes ensuring community service does not interfere with school or work commitments.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Apr 10, 2025

Amended

Senate disagrees with House amendments.

upper

Apr 10, 2025

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 666).

upper

Apr 8, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with Representative(s) Chun, Holt, Lamosao, Reyes Oda voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia, Kila, Kong, Matsumoto, Muraoka, Pierick, Shimizu voting no (8) and Representative(s) Cochran excused (1). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Mar 20, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Kahaloa, Perruso, Takayama, Todd; Ayes with reservations: none; 2 Noes: Representative(s) Garcia, Shimizu; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran, Hashem.

lower

Mar 14, 2025

Committee

Reported from HSH (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1277) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.

lower

Mar 11, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on HSH recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Marten, Olds, Amato, Chun, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Takayama, Takenouchi; Ayes with reservations: none; 2 Noes: Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia; and Excused: none.

lower

Mar 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to HSH, JHA, referral sheet 19

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 239) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

upper

Feb 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in JDC were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Chang, San Buenaventura, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Jan 31, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC has scheduled a public hearing on 02-07-25 9:25AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 31, 2025

Committee

Re-Referred to JDC.

upper

Jan 23, 2025

Committee

Referred to HHS, JDC.

upper

Jan 17, 2025

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

3 primary · 1 co-sponsor