HI HB1788

Amends Hawaii Revised Statutes Section 571-32 to restrict room confinement of children in detention and shelter facilities to only temporary responses when behavior poses immediate danger to self or others, or child is an imminent escape risk.

Requires exhaustion of less restrictive options (de-escalation, behavioral management, mental health intervention) before room confinement may be used, and limits confinement to the least time needed for the child to regain self-control.

Caps initial room confinement at 3 hours, with extensions of no more than 3 hours only by on-call duty judge; requires family court hearing on next business day if confinement exceeds 3 hours and provides legal representation to the child.

Mandates notification to senior judge, presiding judge, and deputy chief court administrator on the next business day; prohibits use for punishment, discipline, convenience, coercion, or due to staffing shortages.

Requires rooms to have adequate lighting and ventilation, be clean and suicide-resistant, and ensures confined children maintain access to water, toilet facilities, hygiene supplies, meals, parent contact, education, and medical/mental health services with continuous staff monitoring.

Requires annual reporting to judiciary on room confinement incidents including number of incidents, demographics of affected children, duration of confinements exceeding 3 hours, and alternative strategies attempted before confinement.

Takes effect December 31, 2059.