HI HB1451

Amends Hawaii Revised Statutes Section 571-46(b) to change the standard of proof for establishing willful misuse of domestic abuse protective orders in child custody cases from "clear and convincing evidence" to "preponderance of the evidence"

Applies the lower evidentiary standard to both determining whether a parent willfully misused the protection from abuse process and whether such misuse shows the parent cannot cooperate with the other parent in shared child responsibilities

Maintains requirement that courts articulate findings of fact when relying on willful misuse of protective orders as a factor in best interests of the child determinations

Clarifies that voluntary dismissal of a protection from abuse petition alone is not prima facie evidence of willful misuse

Takes effect upon approval with no retroactive application to rights, duties, penalties, and proceedings that began before the effective date