S.B. 271 Summary

• Expands the definition of "aggravated circumstances" in Hawaii's Child Protective Act (Chapter 587A, HRS) to include eight additional conditions beyond the existing seven, for a total of fourteen circumstances where biological family placement is considered unsafe.

• New conditions include: parent is a repeat offender of drug-related crimes, gang activity, theft, arson, or extortion; parent has been incarcerated multiple times resulting in child's repeated foster care placement; parent has placed child or sibling in foster care more than once.

• Additional new conditions include: parent's parental rights previously terminated; parent failed to comply with pre-permanency or permanency plan requirements more than once; parent has physically abused a child as witnessed or corroborated by a third party; parent engaged in human trafficking of the child or another child.

• Clarifies that abandoned infant status may include a parent disappearing for a day or longer without contact on multiple occasions, only to be located due to an arrest.

• Effective date: July 1, 2050.