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Panel approves SB1228 to create judiciary‑housed working group on youth legal counsel
Summary
The joint committee passed SB1228 with amendments to add a representative from the Domestic Violence Action Center and to place a child-welfare branch member on the proposed working group, aiming to implement Malama Ohana recommendations and improve legal representation and timeliness for foster youth.
The joint committees on Health & Human Services and Judiciary voted to pass SB1228 with amendments to create a judiciary‑housed working group focused on youth access to legal counsel and other child-welfare reforms.
Daisy Hartsfield, social services division administrator for the Department of Human Services, asked the committee to add a representative from the department's child-welfare services branch so the working group includes CWS perspectives. Dana Matsunami of the National Center for Youth Law called the bill "a vital step" to ensure youth in foster care have consistent legal advocacy and to reduce delays in court proceedings.
Judith Clark, executive director of the Hawaii Youth Services Network, testified the Malama Ohana Working Group had produced recommendations and the proposed working group would develop implementation plans. The committee agreed to add a Domestic Violence Action Center member to the group and passed the measure with technical amendments and a defective date of Dec. 31, 2050.
Next steps: The bill moves forward with amendments to membership and technical language; committee staff and participating agencies will coordinate details of membership and scope.
