SB 952 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO CHILD WELFARE SERVICES.

Summary

Requires the Department of Human Services, in collaboration with the Office of Wellness and Resilience, to design a five-year Child Welfare System Diversion and Intervention Pilot Program to support families and children involved, at risk of involvement, or at risk of reinvolvement with Child Welfare Services. Specifies that the Department of Human Services shall implement and administer the pilot program. Allows the Department to contract with public and private entities to provide necessary services. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

House Passage

Apr 2025

Governor

Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Last action Apr 2, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB952_SD1 → SB952_SD2 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill revision shifts the primary responsibility for a new five-year child welfare pilot program from the Office of Wellness and Resilience to the Department of Human Services (DHS). The update clarifies that DHS will lead the program while collaborating with the Office of Wellness and Resilience, and it slightly refines the description of services to better emphasize family support and resource provision.

Scope change

The bill's scope changed from being administered solely by the Office of Wellness and Resilience to being led by the Department of Human Services in collaboration with the Office of Wellness and Resilience.

SCOPE

Responsibility for designing, implementing, and administering the child welfare pilot program was transferred from the Office of Wellness and Resilience to the Department of Human Services, with the Office now acting as a collaborator.

REQUIREMENT

The description of services was updated to explicitly state that resources will be provided to meet families' needs for food, clothing, hygiene, housing, and other essentials, rather than just listing them.

Reporting requirements were adjusted to specify that the Department of Human Services, working with the Office of Wellness and Resilience, must submit findings and recommendations to the legislature.

The authority to contract with public and private entities to run the program was reassigned from the Office of Wellness and Resilience to the Department of Human Services.

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 24, 2025

Upper · Passed

Conference committee meeting scheduled for 04-25-25 1:30PM; Conference Room 329.

upper

Apr 10, 2025

Amended

Senate disagrees with House amendments.

upper

Apr 10, 2025

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 664).

upper

Apr 8, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Marten excused (2). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Mar 28, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 14 Ayes: Representative(s) Yamashita, Takenouchi, Grandinetti, Holt, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lamosao, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Templo, Alcos, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Hussey, Ward.

lower

Mar 13, 2025

Committee

Reported from HSH (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1211), recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.

lower

Mar 11, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on HSH recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Marten, Olds, Amato, Chun, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Takayama, Takenouchi, Alcos, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.

lower

Mar 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to HSH, FIN, referral sheet 19

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 227) in amended form (SD 2).

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

upper

Feb 19, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WAM were as follows: 13 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, Aquino, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Feb 14, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-19-25 10:02AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 14, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.

upper

Feb 14, 2025

Committee

Reported from HHS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 627) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Feb 12, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HHS were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, Aquino, Hashimoto, Keohokalole, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Feb 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HHS has scheduled a public hearing on 02-10-25 1:20PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 23, 2025

Committee

Referred to HHS, WAM.

upper

Jan 17, 2025

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

10 primary · 1 co-sponsor