HI HB1953

Requires the Judicial Council to conduct a comprehensive review of the Hawaii Penal Code by forty days before the 2026 legislative session, with recommendations for amendments to ensure consistency, proportionality, and alignment with national best practices.

Mandates creation of an advisory committee on penal code review by September 1, 2024, comprising representatives from the judiciary, legislature, attorney general's office, public defender, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, corrections, law enforcement, prosecutors, county police departments, and the governor's mental health advisor.

Permits the Judicial Council to appoint additional committee members from citizen groups, private attorneys, victim and incarcerated individual advocates, psychologists, and other necessary participants.

Authorizes the Judicial Council to appoint a reporter and research staff without regard to civil service requirements, with preference for using University of Hawaii at Manoa law school faculty and students.

Appropriates unspecified general revenue funds for fiscal year 2024-2025 to support the penal code review, with the bill becoming effective July 1, 2050 (except appropriations take effect July 1, 2024).