HB1979 Summary

• Establishes the Hawaii Hope Card Program within the Department of the Attorney General to issue identification cards to persons with long-term protective orders as an alternative to carrying nine-page court documents.

• Hope cards are credit card-sized, laminated, waterproof cards containing the restrained person's photograph and identifying information, protective order case number, issuance and expiration dates, and names of covered dependents.

• Persons granted long-term protective orders (lasting more than 90 days under HRS 604-10.5 or more than 180 days under chapter 586) may request hope cards at no charge, with duplicate cards available for schools, employers, or individuals covered by the order.

• Requires the Hawaii Hope Card Program to inform the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center when cards are issued to enable law enforcement verification of protective orders.

• Appropriates $30,000 for fiscal year 2020-2021 to the Department of the Attorney General for program administration, with implementation required by January 1, 2021; penalizes applicants who knowingly provide false information with fines up to $500.