HB 2730 Summary

• Establishes a five-year pilot program expanding Hawaii's Opportunity Probation with Enforcement (HOPE) to include defendants with substance addiction, mental illness, homelessness, or other catastrophic conditions charged with misdemeanor or lower offenses, excluding Class A or B felonies and violent crimes.

• Requires courts to inform eligible defendants of the HOPE pilot program option during pretrial conferences as an alternative to jail, subject to court approval and victim agreement.

• Permits courts to seal criminal records of offenders who successfully complete the pilot program through restorative justice processes with approval from the victim and prosecuting attorney.

• Directs the judiciary to submit interim reports to the legislature prior to regular sessions in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024, and a final report by 2025 evaluating program efficacy, costs, and whether to make the program permanent.

• Appropriates funding from general revenues for the pilot program for fiscal years 2020-2021 and 2021-2022, effective July 1, 2020.