HI HB727

Permanently establishes the Women's Court Program in the First Circuit of the Hawaii judiciary, implementing trauma-informed and evidence-based practices with gender-responsive programming to divert participants from incarceration and reduce recidivism.

Establishes a temporary two-year Women's Court Pilot Program in the Kona division of the Third Circuit, supervised by the Big Island Drug Court, with the judiciary providing mental health services.

Both programs shall provide services addressing trauma and mental health treatment, family support, life-skills training, education and vocational training, domestic violence prevention, medical services, substance abuse treatment, mentoring, and housing support.

Requires the judiciary to submit reports to the governor and legislature no later than forty days before the regular sessions of 2026 and 2027, detailing program status, participant numbers, completion rates, and recommendations on whether to continue, expand, or discontinue the pilot program.

Appropriates $514,900 for fiscal year 2025-2026 and $557,000 for fiscal year 2026-2027 for services and establishes one temporary full-time Kona drug court probation supervisor position; pilot program sunsets June 30, 2027.