SB 2475 Summary

• Establishes a statewide "harm to students registry" database maintained by the Department of Education containing information on school employees, contractors, and volunteers found to have inflicted harm on students through institutional investigations.

• Registry includes employee name, prior names, date of birth, photograph, last known address, and reporting institution; applies to all public schools, private schools, charter schools, and early learning programs in Hawaii.

• Requires institutions to report final findings of harm infliction (sexual abuse, physical assault, inappropriate contact, child abuse, romantic relationships with students) to the registry only after providing due process including independent investigator, opportunity for accused to respond, representation if required, and preponderance of evidence standard.

• Mandates all institutions check the registry before hiring employees or authorizing volunteers in student-facing roles and prohibit employment or volunteer service of anyone listed on the registry.

• Provides qualified immunity from liability for institutions sharing employee misconduct information with other institutions, rebuttable only upon showing information was knowingly false or misleading; registry exempt from public disclosure under open records law.

• Takes effect July 1, 2024.