Hawaii 2022 Regular Session

Hawaii Senate Bill SB823 Compare Versions

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11 THE SENATE S.B. NO. 823 THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2021 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT relating to chilDhood sexual abuse. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
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3737 relating to chilDhood sexual abuse.
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4747 SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the child welfare system requires ongoing reform to uphold the best interests of children who have been seriously abused by one or both custodial parents. The legislature has identified two significant areas for policy changes that lie within the purview of legislators for the safety of children statewide: (1) Allowing the consideration of harm to comport with the threshold of harm in other states that have addressed the problem of child safety; and (2) Prohibiting the use of parental alienation syndrome in determining child safety or custodial issues when child sexual abuse or domestic violence by the offending parent or custodian has been reported. The legislature further finds the State is only allowed to intervene in abuse cases to keep children safe if there is imminent harm to a child. Many abusers commonly avoid this situation by stopping their child abuse temporarily during investigations, only to continue the abuse after they have been awarded custody of the child. Other states have addressed this issue by expanding the scenarios wherein the State may intervene to protect children. The legislature further finds that parental alienation syndrome has been widely discredited by the mental-health and legal communities. According to several studies on the phenomenon, including a study from the University of Michigan school of law and the former president of the American Psychiatric Association, parental alienation syndrome is "junk science" that fails the standard for evidentiary admissibility. In addition, a call for nationwide reform was urged, resulting from a 2020 longitudinal study--funded by the United States Department of Justice--which also confirmed that parental alienation syndrome lacked any scientific basis and courts' consideration of parental alienation syndrome disproportionately affected mothers reporting child abuse or child sexual abuse of their children by their children's fathers. The result was that mothers lost custody of their children through the fathers' retaliatory-yet-successful counter-arguments in support of parental alienation syndrome. Essentially, this common, widespread phenomenon exemplifies systemic bias at its worst, demonstrating the tacit rule that mothers should not report child sexual abuse for fear of losing custody of their children through the sexist application of the junk science of parental alienation syndrome. Although fathers'-rights organizations may argue in favor of the validity of parental alienation syndrome, no organization thus far has put forth a valid scientific study refuting the findings of the numerous scientific and legal studies calling for the abolition of the consideration of parental alienation syndrome in determining child custody. Furthermore, the legislature finds that the founder of the concept of parental alienation syndrome developed his theory without using any empirical evidence. However, because of a longstanding problem with systemic sexism in the courts, his scientifically baseless theory flourished to the detriment of protective mothers. The purpose of this Act is to: (1) Prohibit courts from considering the allegation of parental alienation syndrome in determining child custody where sexual abuse or domestic violence has been reported; and (2) Allow for the consideration of "harm" and "probable harm", rather than just "imminent harm", in Child Protective Act determinations. SECTION 2. Section 571-46, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows: "§571-46 Criteria and procedure in awarding custody and visitation; best interest of the child. (a) In actions for divorce, separation, annulment, separate maintenance, or any other proceeding where there is at issue a dispute as to the custody of a minor child, the court, during the pendency of the action, at the final hearing, or any time during the minority of the child, may make an order for the custody of the minor child as may seem necessary or proper. In awarding the custody, the court shall be guided by the following standards, considerations, and procedures: (1) Custody should be awarded to either parent or to both parents according to the best interests of the child, and the court also may consider frequent, continuing, and meaningful contact of each parent with the child unless the court finds that a parent is unable to act in the best interest of the child; (2) Custody may be awarded to persons other than the father or mother whenever the award serves the best interest of the child. Any person who has had de facto custody of the child in a stable and wholesome home and is a fit and proper person shall be entitled prima facie to an award of custody; (3) If a child is of sufficient age and capacity to reason, so as to form an intelligent preference, the child's wishes as to custody shall be considered and be given due weight by the court; (4) Whenever good cause appears therefor, the court may require an investigation and report concerning the care, welfare, and custody of any minor child of the parties. When so directed by the court, investigators or professional personnel attached to or assisting the court, hereinafter referred to as child custody evaluators, shall make investigations and reports that shall be made available to all interested parties and counsel before hearing, and the reports may be received in evidence if no objection is made and, if objection is made, may be received in evidence; provided the person or persons responsible for the report are available for cross-examination as to any matter that has been investigated; and provided further that the court shall define, in accordance with section 571-46.4, the requirements to be a court-appointed child custody evaluator, the standards of practice, ethics, policies, and procedures required of court-appointed child custody evaluators in the performance of their duties for all courts, and the powers of the courts over child custody evaluators to effectuate the best interests of a child in a contested custody dispute pursuant to this section. Where there is no child custody evaluator available that meets the requirements and standards, or any child custody evaluator to serve indigent parties, the court may appoint a person otherwise willing and available in accordance with section 571-46.4; (5) The court may hear the testimony of any person or expert, produced by any party or upon the court's own motion, whose skill, insight, knowledge, or experience is such that the person's or expert's testimony is relevant to a just and reasonable determination of what is for the best physical, mental, moral, and spiritual well-being of the child whose custody is at issue; (6) Any custody award shall be subject to modification or change whenever the best interests of the child require or justify the modification or change and, wherever practicable, the same person who made the original order shall hear the motion or petition for modification of the prior award; (7) Reasonable visitation rights shall be awarded to parents, grandparents, siblings, and any person interested in the welfare of the child in the discretion of the court, unless it is shown that rights of visitation are detrimental to the best interests of the child; (8) The court may appoint a guardian ad litem to represent the interests of the child and may assess the reasonable fees and expenses of the guardian ad litem as costs of the action, payable in whole or in part by either or both parties as the circumstances may justify; (9) In every proceeding where there is at issue a dispute as to the custody of a child, a determination by the court that family violence has been committed by a parent raises a rebuttable presumption that it is detrimental to the child and not in the best interest of the child to be placed in sole custody, joint legal custody, or joint physical custody with the perpetrator of family violence. In addition to other factors that a court shall consider in a proceeding in which the custody of a child or visitation by a parent is at issue, and in which the court has made a finding of family violence by a parent: (A) The court shall consider as the primary factor the safety and well-being of the child and of the parent who is the victim of family violence; (B) The court shall consider the perpetrator's history of causing physical harm, bodily injury, or assault or causing reasonable fear of physical harm, bodily injury, or assault to another person; and (C) If a parent is absent or relocates because of an act of family violence by the other parent, the absence or relocation shall not be a factor that weighs against the parent in determining custody or visitation; (10) A court may award visitation to a parent who has committed family violence only if the court finds that adequate provision can be made for the physical safety and psychological well-being of the child and for the safety of the parent who is a victim of family violence; (11) In a visitation order, a court may: (A) Order an exchange of a child to occur in a protected setting; (B) Order visitation supervised by another person or agency; (C) Order the perpetrator of family violence to attend and complete, to the satisfaction of the court, a program of intervention for perpetrators or other designated counseling as a condition of the visitation; (D) Order the perpetrator of family violence to abstain from possession or consumption of alcohol or controlled substances during the visitation and for twenty-four hours preceding the visitation; (E) Order the perpetrator of family violence to pay a fee to defray the costs of supervised visitation; (F) Prohibit overnight visitation; (G) Require a bond from the perpetrator of family violence for the return and safety of the child. In determining the amount of the bond, the court shall consider the financial circumstances of the perpetrator of family violence; (H) Impose any other condition that is deemed necessary to provide for the safety of the child, the victim of family violence, or other family or household member; and (I) Order the address of the child and the victim to be kept confidential; (12) The court may refer but shall not order an adult who is a victim of family violence to attend, either individually or with the perpetrator of the family violence, counseling relating to the victim's status or behavior as a victim as a condition of receiving custody of a child or as a condition of visitation; (13) If a court allows a family or household member to supervise visitation, the court shall establish conditions to be followed during visitation; (14) A supervised visitation center shall provide a secure setting and specialized procedures for supervised visitation and the transfer of children for visitation and supervision by a person trained in security and the avoidance of family violence; (15) The court may include in visitation awarded pursuant to this section visitation by electronic communication provided that the court shall additionally consider the potential for abuse or misuse of the electronic communication, including the equipment used for the communication, by the person seeking visitation or by persons who may be present during the visitation or have access to the communication or equipment; whether the person seeking visitation has previously violated a temporary restraining order or protective order; and whether adequate provision can be made for the physical safety and psychological well-being of the child and for the safety of the custodial parent; (16) The court may set conditions for visitation by electronic communication under paragraph (15), including visitation supervised by another person or occurring in a protected setting. Visitation by electronic communication shall not be used to: (A) Replace or substitute an award of custody or physical visitation except where: (i) Circumstances exist that make a parent seeking visitation unable to participate in physical visitation, including military deployment; or (ii) Physical visitation may subject the child to physical or extreme psychological harm; or (B) Justify or support the relocation of a custodial parent; and (17) Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, no natural parent shall be granted custody of or visitation with a child if the natural parent has been convicted in a court of competent jurisdiction in any state of rape or sexual assault and the child was conceived as a result of that offense; provided that: (A) A denial of custody or visitation under this paragraph shall not affect the obligation of the convicted natural parent to support the child; (B) The court may order the convicted natural parent to pay child support; (C) This paragraph shall not apply if subsequent to the date of conviction, the convicted natural parent and custodial natural parent cohabitate and establish a mutual custodial environment for the child; and (D) A custodial natural parent may petition the court to grant the convicted natural parent custody and visitation denied pursuant to this paragraph, and upon such petition the court may grant custody and visitation to the convicted natural parent where it is in the best interest of the child. (b) In determining what constitutes the best interest of the child under this section, the court shall consider, but not be limited to, the following: (1) Any history of sexual or physical abuse of a child by a parent; (2) Any history of neglect or emotional abuse of a child by a parent; (3) The overall quality of the parent-child relationship; (4) The history of caregiving or parenting by each parent prior and subsequent to a marital or other type of separation; (5) Each parent's cooperation in developing and implementing a plan to meet the child's ongoing needs, interests, and schedule; provided that this factor shall not be considered in any case where the court has determined that family violence has been committed by a parent; (6) The physical health needs of the child; (7) The emotional needs of the child; (8) The safety needs of the child; (9) The educational needs of the child; (10) The child's need for relationships with siblings; (11) Each parent's actions demonstrating that they allow the child to maintain family connections through family events and activities; provided that this factor shall not be considered in any case where the court has determined that family violence has been committed by a parent; (12) Each parent's actions demonstrating that they separate the child's needs from the parent's needs; (13) Any evidence of past or current drug or alcohol abuse by a parent; (14) The mental health of each parent; (15) The areas and levels of conflict present within the family; and (16) A parent's prior wilful misuse of the protection from abuse process under chapter 586 to gain a tactical advantage in any proceeding involving the custody determination of a minor. Such wilful misuse may be considered only if it is established by clear and convincing evidence, and if it is further found by clear and convincing evidence that in the particular family circumstance the wilful misuse tends to show that, in the future, the parent who engaged in the wilful misuse will not be able to cooperate successfully with the other parent in their shared responsibilities for the child. The court shall articulate findings of fact whenever relying upon this factor as part of its determination of the best interests of the child. For the purposes of this section, when taken alone, the voluntary dismissal of a petition for protection from abuse shall not be treated as prima facie evidence that a wilful misuse of the protection from abuse process has occurred. (c) In no case shall the court consider parental alienation syndrome as a defense where sexual assault or abuse of a family or household member, or any threat thereof, has been reported when making its determination under subsection (b)(1). As used in this section, "parental alienation syndrome" means the widely discredited idea that one parent may interfere with the love that the child may have for the other parent by preventing, or attempting to prevent, the child from maintaining an ongoing relationship with the other parent during or after a separation or divorce." SECTION 3. Section 587A-4, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new definition to be appropriately inserted and to read as follows: ""Probable harm" means that without intervention there is reasonable cause to believe that harm to the child is more likely than not to occur." SECTION 4. Section 587A-5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows: "§587A-5 Jurisdiction. Pursuant to section 571‑11(9), the court shall have exclusive original jurisdiction: (1) In a child protective proceeding concerning any child who is or was found within the State at the time specified facts and circumstances occurred, are discovered, or are reported to the department. These facts and circumstances constitute the basis for the court's finding that the child's physical or psychological health or welfare is subject to harm or imminent harm, has been harmed, may suffer probable harm, or is subject to threatened harm by the acts or omissions of the child's family; and (2) In any prior child protective proceeding under chapter 587, the former Child Protective Act." SECTION 5. Section 587A-8, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows: "(a) A police officer shall assume protective custody of a child without a court order and without the consent of the child's family, if in the discretion of the police officer, the officer determines that: (1) The child is subject to harm or imminent harm while in the custody of the child's family; (2) The child's parent has subjected, or may subject, the child to probable harm; [(2)] (3) The child has no parent, as defined in this chapter, who is willing and able to provide a safe family home for the child; [(3)] (4) The child has no caregiver, as defined in this chapter, who is willing and able to provide a safe and appropriate placement for the child; or [(4)] (5) The child's parent has subjected the child to harm or threatened harm and the parent is likely to flee with the child." SECTION 6. Section 587A-9, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows: "(a) When the department receives protective custody of a child from the police, the department shall: (1) Assume temporary foster custody of the child if, in the discretion of the department, the department determines that the child is subject to harm or imminent harm while in the custody of the child's family; (2) Assume temporary foster custody of the child if, in the discretion of the department, the child's parent has subjected, or may subject, the child to probable harm; [(2)] (3) Make every reasonable effort to inform the child's parents of the actions taken, unless doing so would put another person at risk of harm; [(3)] (4) Unless the child is admitted to a hospital or similar institution, place the child in emergency foster care while the department conducts an appropriate investigation, with placement preference being given to an approved relative; [(4)] (5) With authorized agencies, make reasonable efforts to identify and notify all relatives within thirty days of assuming temporary foster custody of the child; and [(5)] (6) Within three days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays: (A) Relinquish temporary foster custody, return the child to the child's parents, and proceed pursuant to section 587A-11(4), (5), or (6); (B) Secure a voluntary placement agreement from the child's parents to place the child in foster care, and proceed pursuant to section 587A-11(6) or (8); or (C) File a petition with the court." SECTION 7. Section 587A-11, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows: "§587A-11 Investigation; department powers. Upon receiving a report that a child is subject to harm or imminent harm, has been harmed, may suffer probable harm, or is subject to threatened harm, and when an assessment is required by this chapter, the department shall cause such investigation to be made as it deems to be appropriate. In conducting the investigation, the department may: (1) Enlist the cooperation and assistance of appropriate state and federal law enforcement authorities, who may conduct an investigation and, if an investigation is conducted, shall provide the department with all preliminary findings, including the results of a criminal history record check of an alleged perpetrator of harm or threatened harm to the child; (2) Conduct a criminal history record check of an alleged perpetrator and all adults living in the family home, with or without consent, to ensure the safety of the child; (3) Interview the child without the presence or prior approval of the child's family and temporarily assume protective custody of the child for the purpose of conducting the interview; (4) Resolve the matter in an informal fashion that it deems appropriate under the circumstances; (5) Close the matter if the department finds, after an assessment, that the child is residing with a caregiver who is willing and able to meet the child's needs and provide a safe and appropriate placement for the child; (6) Immediately enter into a service plan: (A) To safely maintain the child in the family home; or (B) To place the child in voluntary foster care pursuant to a written agreement with the child's parent. If the child is placed in voluntary foster care and the family does not successfully complete the service plan within three months after the date on which the department assumed physical custody of the child, the department shall file a petition. The department is not required to file a petition if the parents agree to adoption or legal guardianship of the child and the child's safety is ensured; provided that the adoption or legal guardianship hearing is conducted within six months of the date on which the department assumed physical custody of the child; (7) Assume temporary foster custody of the child and file a petition with the court within three days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, after the date on which the department assumes temporary foster custody of the child, with placement preference being given to an approved relative; or (8) File a petition or ensure that a petition is filed by another appropriate authorized agency in court under this chapter." SECTION 8. Section 587A-12, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows: "(b) If the court determines that the child is subject to harm, probable harm, or imminent harm while in the custody of the child's family, the court shall order that a police officer immediately take the child into protective custody and that the department immediately assume temporary foster custody of the child." SECTION 9. Section 587A-21, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows: "(b) In deciding in temporary foster custody hearings whether there is reasonable cause to believe that a child is subject to harm, probable harm, or imminent harm the court may consider relevant hearsay evidence when direct testimony is unavailable or when it is impractical to subpoena witnesses who will be able to testify to facts based on personal knowledge." SECTION 10. Section 587A-26, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (c) to read as follows: "(c) After reviewing the petition and any reports submitted by the department and considering all information pertaining to the safe family home factors, the court shall order: (1) That the child be immediately released from the department's temporary foster custody, placed in temporary family supervision, and returned to the child's family home with the assistance of services, upon finding that the child's family is able to provide a safe family home with services; or (2) That the child continue in the department's temporary foster custody, upon finding that there is reasonable cause to believe that continued placement in foster care is necessary to protect the child from harm, probable harm, or imminent harm; provided that in making this determination, the court shall consider whether: (A) The department made reasonable efforts to prevent or eliminate the need for removing the child from the child's family home before the child was placed in foster care; (B) The alleged or potential perpetrator of imminent harm, harm, or threatened harm should be removed from the family home rather than continuing the child's placement in foster care. The child's family shall have the burden of establishing that it is in the child's best interests to remove the child, rather than the alleged or potential perpetrator, from the family home; and (C) Every reasonable effort has been or is being made to place siblings or psychologically-bonded children together, unless such placement is not in the children's best interests." SECTION 11. This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date. SECTION 12. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored. SECTION 13. This Act shall take effect upon its approval. INTRODUCED BY: _____________________________
4848
4949 SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the child welfare system requires ongoing reform to uphold the best interests of children who have been seriously abused by one or both custodial parents. The legislature has identified two significant areas for policy changes that lie within the purview of legislators for the safety of children statewide:
5050
5151 (1) Allowing the consideration of harm to comport with the threshold of harm in other states that have addressed the problem of child safety; and
5252
5353 (2) Prohibiting the use of parental alienation syndrome in determining child safety or custodial issues when child sexual abuse or domestic violence by the offending parent or custodian has been reported.
5454
5555 The legislature further finds the State is only allowed to intervene in abuse cases to keep children safe if there is imminent harm to a child. Many abusers commonly avoid this situation by stopping their child abuse temporarily during investigations, only to continue the abuse after they have been awarded custody of the child. Other states have addressed this issue by expanding the scenarios wherein the State may intervene to protect children.
5656
5757 The legislature further finds that parental alienation syndrome has been widely discredited by the mental-health and legal communities. According to several studies on the phenomenon, including a study from the University of Michigan school of law and the former president of the American Psychiatric Association, parental alienation syndrome is "junk science" that fails the standard for evidentiary admissibility.
5858
5959 In addition, a call for nationwide reform was urged, resulting from a 2020 longitudinal study--funded by the United States Department of Justice--which also confirmed that parental alienation syndrome lacked any scientific basis and courts' consideration of parental alienation syndrome disproportionately affected mothers reporting child abuse or child sexual abuse of their children by their children's fathers. The result was that mothers lost custody of their children through the fathers' retaliatory-yet-successful counter-arguments in support of parental alienation syndrome. Essentially, this common, widespread phenomenon exemplifies systemic bias at its worst, demonstrating the tacit rule that mothers should not report child sexual abuse for fear of losing custody of their children through the sexist application of the junk science of parental alienation syndrome.
6060
6161 Although fathers'-rights organizations may argue in favor of the validity of parental alienation syndrome, no organization thus far has put forth a valid scientific study refuting the findings of the numerous scientific and legal studies calling for the abolition of the consideration of parental alienation syndrome in determining child custody.
6262
6363 Furthermore, the legislature finds that the founder of the concept of parental alienation syndrome developed his theory without using any empirical evidence. However, because of a longstanding problem with systemic sexism in the courts, his scientifically baseless theory flourished to the detriment of protective mothers.
6464
6565 The purpose of this Act is to:
6666
6767 (1) Prohibit courts from considering the allegation of parental alienation syndrome in determining child custody where sexual abuse or domestic violence has been reported; and
6868
6969 (2) Allow for the consideration of "harm" and "probable harm", rather than just "imminent harm", in Child Protective Act determinations.
7070
7171 SECTION 2. Section 571-46, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
7272
7373 "§571-46 Criteria and procedure in awarding custody and visitation; best interest of the child. (a) In actions for divorce, separation, annulment, separate maintenance, or any other proceeding where there is at issue a dispute as to the custody of a minor child, the court, during the pendency of the action, at the final hearing, or any time during the minority of the child, may make an order for the custody of the minor child as may seem necessary or proper. In awarding the custody, the court shall be guided by the following standards, considerations, and procedures:
7474
7575 (1) Custody should be awarded to either parent or to both parents according to the best interests of the child, and the court also may consider frequent, continuing, and meaningful contact of each parent with the child unless the court finds that a parent is unable to act in the best interest of the child;
7676
7777 (2) Custody may be awarded to persons other than the father or mother whenever the award serves the best interest of the child. Any person who has had de facto custody of the child in a stable and wholesome home and is a fit and proper person shall be entitled prima facie to an award of custody;
7878
7979 (3) If a child is of sufficient age and capacity to reason, so as to form an intelligent preference, the child's wishes as to custody shall be considered and be given due weight by the court;
8080
8181 (4) Whenever good cause appears therefor, the court may require an investigation and report concerning the care, welfare, and custody of any minor child of the parties. When so directed by the court, investigators or professional personnel attached to or assisting the court, hereinafter referred to as child custody evaluators, shall make investigations and reports that shall be made available to all interested parties and counsel before hearing, and the reports may be received in evidence if no objection is made and, if objection is made, may be received in evidence; provided the person or persons responsible for the report are available for cross-examination as to any matter that has been investigated; and provided further that the court shall define, in accordance with section 571-46.4, the requirements to be a court-appointed child custody evaluator, the standards of practice, ethics, policies, and procedures required of court-appointed child custody evaluators in the performance of their duties for all courts, and the powers of the courts over child custody evaluators to effectuate the best interests of a child in a contested custody dispute pursuant to this section. Where there is no child custody evaluator available that meets the requirements and standards, or any child custody evaluator to serve indigent parties, the court may appoint a person otherwise willing and available in accordance with section 571-46.4;
8282
8383 (5) The court may hear the testimony of any person or expert, produced by any party or upon the court's own motion, whose skill, insight, knowledge, or experience is such that the person's or expert's testimony is relevant to a just and reasonable determination of what is for the best physical, mental, moral, and spiritual well-being of the child whose custody is at issue;
8484
8585 (6) Any custody award shall be subject to modification or change whenever the best interests of the child require or justify the modification or change and, wherever practicable, the same person who made the original order shall hear the motion or petition for modification of the prior award;
8686
8787 (7) Reasonable visitation rights shall be awarded to parents, grandparents, siblings, and any person interested in the welfare of the child in the discretion of the court, unless it is shown that rights of visitation are detrimental to the best interests of the child;
8888
8989 (8) The court may appoint a guardian ad litem to represent the interests of the child and may assess the reasonable fees and expenses of the guardian ad litem as costs of the action, payable in whole or in part by either or both parties as the circumstances may justify;
9090
9191 (9) In every proceeding where there is at issue a dispute as to the custody of a child, a determination by the court that family violence has been committed by a parent raises a rebuttable presumption that it is detrimental to the child and not in the best interest of the child to be placed in sole custody, joint legal custody, or joint physical custody with the perpetrator of family violence. In addition to other factors that a court shall consider in a proceeding in which the custody of a child or visitation by a parent is at issue, and in which the court has made a finding of family violence by a parent:
9292
9393 (A) The court shall consider as the primary factor the safety and well-being of the child and of the parent who is the victim of family violence;
9494
9595 (B) The court shall consider the perpetrator's history of causing physical harm, bodily injury, or assault or causing reasonable fear of physical harm, bodily injury, or assault to another person; and
9696
9797 (C) If a parent is absent or relocates because of an act of family violence by the other parent, the absence or relocation shall not be a factor that weighs against the parent in determining custody or visitation;
9898
9999 (10) A court may award visitation to a parent who has committed family violence only if the court finds that adequate provision can be made for the physical safety and psychological well-being of the child and for the safety of the parent who is a victim of family violence;
100100
101101 (11) In a visitation order, a court may:
102102
103103 (A) Order an exchange of a child to occur in a protected setting;
104104
105105 (B) Order visitation supervised by another person or agency;
106106
107107 (C) Order the perpetrator of family violence to attend and complete, to the satisfaction of the court, a program of intervention for perpetrators or other designated counseling as a condition of the visitation;
108108
109109 (D) Order the perpetrator of family violence to abstain from possession or consumption of alcohol or controlled substances during the visitation and for twenty-four hours preceding the visitation;
110110
111111 (E) Order the perpetrator of family violence to pay a fee to defray the costs of supervised visitation;
112112
113113 (F) Prohibit overnight visitation;
114114
115115 (G) Require a bond from the perpetrator of family violence for the return and safety of the child. In determining the amount of the bond, the court shall consider the financial circumstances of the perpetrator of family violence;
116116
117117 (H) Impose any other condition that is deemed necessary to provide for the safety of the child, the victim of family violence, or other family or household member; and
118118
119119 (I) Order the address of the child and the victim to be kept confidential;
120120
121121 (12) The court may refer but shall not order an adult who is a victim of family violence to attend, either individually or with the perpetrator of the family violence, counseling relating to the victim's status or behavior as a victim as a condition of receiving custody of a child or as a condition of visitation;
122122
123123 (13) If a court allows a family or household member to supervise visitation, the court shall establish conditions to be followed during visitation;
124124
125125 (14) A supervised visitation center shall provide a secure setting and specialized procedures for supervised visitation and the transfer of children for visitation and supervision by a person trained in security and the avoidance of family violence;
126126
127127 (15) The court may include in visitation awarded pursuant to this section visitation by electronic communication provided that the court shall additionally consider the potential for abuse or misuse of the electronic communication, including the equipment used for the communication, by the person seeking visitation or by persons who may be present during the visitation or have access to the communication or equipment; whether the person seeking visitation has previously violated a temporary restraining order or protective order; and whether adequate provision can be made for the physical safety and psychological well-being of the child and for the safety of the custodial parent;
128128
129129 (16) The court may set conditions for visitation by electronic communication under paragraph (15), including visitation supervised by another person or occurring in a protected setting. Visitation by electronic communication shall not be used to:
130130
131131 (A) Replace or substitute an award of custody or physical visitation except where:
132132
133133 (i) Circumstances exist that make a parent seeking visitation unable to participate in physical visitation, including military deployment; or
134134
135135 (ii) Physical visitation may subject the child to physical or extreme psychological harm; or
136136
137137 (B) Justify or support the relocation of a custodial parent; and
138138
139139 (17) Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, no natural parent shall be granted custody of or visitation with a child if the natural parent has been convicted in a court of competent jurisdiction in any state of rape or sexual assault and the child was conceived as a result of that offense; provided that:
140140
141141 (A) A denial of custody or visitation under this paragraph shall not affect the obligation of the convicted natural parent to support the child;
142142
143143 (B) The court may order the convicted natural parent to pay child support;
144144
145145 (C) This paragraph shall not apply if subsequent to the date of conviction, the convicted natural parent and custodial natural parent cohabitate and establish a mutual custodial environment for the child; and
146146
147147 (D) A custodial natural parent may petition the court to grant the convicted natural parent custody and visitation denied pursuant to this paragraph, and upon such petition the court may grant custody and visitation to the convicted natural parent where it is in the best interest of the child.
148148
149149 (b) In determining what constitutes the best interest of the child under this section, the court shall consider, but not be limited to, the following:
150150
151151 (1) Any history of sexual or physical abuse of a child by a parent;
152152
153153 (2) Any history of neglect or emotional abuse of a child by a parent;
154154
155155 (3) The overall quality of the parent-child relationship;
156156
157157 (4) The history of caregiving or parenting by each parent prior and subsequent to a marital or other type of separation;
158158
159159 (5) Each parent's cooperation in developing and implementing a plan to meet the child's ongoing needs, interests, and schedule; provided that this factor shall not be considered in any case where the court has determined that family violence has been committed by a parent;
160160
161161 (6) The physical health needs of the child;
162162
163163 (7) The emotional needs of the child;
164164
165165 (8) The safety needs of the child;
166166
167167 (9) The educational needs of the child;
168168
169169 (10) The child's need for relationships with siblings;
170170
171171 (11) Each parent's actions demonstrating that they allow the child to maintain family connections through family events and activities; provided that this factor shall not be considered in any case where the court has determined that family violence has been committed by a parent;
172172
173173 (12) Each parent's actions demonstrating that they separate the child's needs from the parent's needs;
174174
175175 (13) Any evidence of past or current drug or alcohol abuse by a parent;
176176
177177 (14) The mental health of each parent;
178178
179179 (15) The areas and levels of conflict present within the family; and
180180
181181 (16) A parent's prior wilful misuse of the protection from abuse process under chapter 586 to gain a tactical advantage in any proceeding involving the custody determination of a minor. Such wilful misuse may be considered only if it is established by clear and convincing evidence, and if it is further found by clear and convincing evidence that in the particular family circumstance the wilful misuse tends to show that, in the future, the parent who engaged in the wilful misuse will not be able to cooperate successfully with the other parent in their shared responsibilities for the child. The court shall articulate findings of fact whenever relying upon this factor as part of its determination of the best interests of the child. For the purposes of this section, when taken alone, the voluntary dismissal of a petition for protection from abuse shall not be treated as prima facie evidence that a wilful misuse of the protection from abuse process has occurred.
182182
183183 (c) In no case shall the court consider parental alienation syndrome as a defense where sexual assault or abuse of a family or household member, or any threat thereof, has been reported when making its determination under subsection (b)(1). As used in this section, "parental alienation syndrome" means the widely discredited idea that one parent may interfere with the love that the child may have for the other parent by preventing, or attempting to prevent, the child from maintaining an ongoing relationship with the other parent during or after a separation or divorce."
184184
185185 SECTION 3. Section 587A-4, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new definition to be appropriately inserted and to read as follows:
186186
187187 ""Probable harm" means that without intervention there is reasonable cause to believe that harm to the child is more likely than not to occur."
188188
189189 SECTION 4. Section 587A-5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
190190
191191 "§587A-5 Jurisdiction. Pursuant to section 571‑11(9), the court shall have exclusive original jurisdiction:
192192
193193 (1) In a child protective proceeding concerning any child who is or was found within the State at the time specified facts and circumstances occurred, are discovered, or are reported to the department. These facts and circumstances constitute the basis for the court's finding that the child's physical or psychological health or welfare is subject to harm or imminent harm, has been harmed, may suffer probable harm, or is subject to threatened harm by the acts or omissions of the child's family; and
194194
195195 (2) In any prior child protective proceeding under chapter 587, the former Child Protective Act."
196196
197197 SECTION 5. Section 587A-8, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:
198198
199199 "(a) A police officer shall assume protective custody of a child without a court order and without the consent of the child's family, if in the discretion of the police officer, the officer determines that:
200200
201201 (1) The child is subject to harm or imminent harm while in the custody of the child's family;
202202
203203 (2) The child's parent has subjected, or may subject, the child to probable harm;
204204
205205 [(2)] (3) The child has no parent, as defined in this chapter, who is willing and able to provide a safe family home for the child;
206206
207207 [(3)] (4) The child has no caregiver, as defined in this chapter, who is willing and able to provide a safe and appropriate placement for the child; or
208208
209209 [(4)] (5) The child's parent has subjected the child to harm or threatened harm and the parent is likely to flee with the child."
210210
211211 SECTION 6. Section 587A-9, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:
212212
213213 "(a) When the department receives protective custody of a child from the police, the department shall:
214214
215215 (1) Assume temporary foster custody of the child if, in the discretion of the department, the department determines that the child is subject to harm or imminent harm while in the custody of the child's family;
216216
217217 (2) Assume temporary foster custody of the child if, in the discretion of the department, the child's parent has subjected, or may subject, the child to probable harm;
218218
219219 [(2)] (3) Make every reasonable effort to inform the child's parents of the actions taken, unless doing so would put another person at risk of harm;
220220
221221 [(3)] (4) Unless the child is admitted to a hospital or similar institution, place the child in emergency foster care while the department conducts an appropriate investigation, with placement preference being given to an approved relative;
222222
223223 [(4)] (5) With authorized agencies, make reasonable efforts to identify and notify all relatives within thirty days of assuming temporary foster custody of the child; and
224224
225225 [(5)] (6) Within three days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays:
226226
227227 (A) Relinquish temporary foster custody, return the child to the child's parents, and proceed pursuant to section 587A-11(4), (5), or (6);
228228
229229 (B) Secure a voluntary placement agreement from the child's parents to place the child in foster care, and proceed pursuant to section 587A-11(6) or (8); or
230230
231231 (C) File a petition with the court."
232232
233233 SECTION 7. Section 587A-11, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
234234
235235 "§587A-11 Investigation; department powers. Upon receiving a report that a child is subject to harm or imminent harm, has been harmed, may suffer probable harm, or is subject to threatened harm, and when an assessment is required by this chapter, the department shall cause such investigation to be made as it deems to be appropriate. In conducting the investigation, the department may:
236236
237237 (1) Enlist the cooperation and assistance of appropriate state and federal law enforcement authorities, who may conduct an investigation and, if an investigation is conducted, shall provide the department with all preliminary findings, including the results of a criminal history record check of an alleged perpetrator of harm or threatened harm to the child;
238238
239239 (2) Conduct a criminal history record check of an alleged perpetrator and all adults living in the family home, with or without consent, to ensure the safety of the child;
240240
241241 (3) Interview the child without the presence or prior approval of the child's family and temporarily assume protective custody of the child for the purpose of conducting the interview;
242242
243243 (4) Resolve the matter in an informal fashion that it deems appropriate under the circumstances;
244244
245245 (5) Close the matter if the department finds, after an assessment, that the child is residing with a caregiver who is willing and able to meet the child's needs and provide a safe and appropriate placement for the child;
246246
247247 (6) Immediately enter into a service plan:
248248
249249 (A) To safely maintain the child in the family home; or
250250
251251 (B) To place the child in voluntary foster care pursuant to a written agreement with the child's parent.
252252
253253 If the child is placed in voluntary foster care and the family does not successfully complete the service plan within three months after the date on which the department assumed physical custody of the child, the department shall file a petition. The department is not required to file a petition if the parents agree to adoption or legal guardianship of the child and the child's safety is ensured; provided that the adoption or legal guardianship hearing is conducted within six months of the date on which the department assumed physical custody of the child;
254254
255255 (7) Assume temporary foster custody of the child and file a petition with the court within three days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, after the date on which the department assumes temporary foster custody of the child, with placement preference being given to an approved relative; or
256256
257257 (8) File a petition or ensure that a petition is filed by another appropriate authorized agency in court under this chapter."
258258
259259 SECTION 8. Section 587A-12, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:
260260
261261 "(b) If the court determines that the child is subject to harm, probable harm, or imminent harm while in the custody of the child's family, the court shall order that a police officer immediately take the child into protective custody and that the department immediately assume temporary foster custody of the child."
262262
263263 SECTION 9. Section 587A-21, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:
264264
265265 "(b) In deciding in temporary foster custody hearings whether there is reasonable cause to believe that a child is subject to harm, probable harm, or imminent harm the court may consider relevant hearsay evidence when direct testimony is unavailable or when it is impractical to subpoena witnesses who will be able to testify to facts based on personal knowledge."
266266
267267 SECTION 10. Section 587A-26, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (c) to read as follows:
268268
269269 "(c) After reviewing the petition and any reports submitted by the department and considering all information pertaining to the safe family home factors, the court shall order:
270270
271271 (1) That the child be immediately released from the department's temporary foster custody, placed in temporary family supervision, and returned to the child's family home with the assistance of services, upon finding that the child's family is able to provide a safe family home with services; or
272272
273273 (2) That the child continue in the department's temporary foster custody, upon finding that there is reasonable cause to believe that continued placement in foster care is necessary to protect the child from harm, probable harm, or imminent harm; provided that in making this determination, the court shall consider whether:
274274
275275 (A) The department made reasonable efforts to prevent or eliminate the need for removing the child from the child's family home before the child was placed in foster care;
276276
277277 (B) The alleged or potential perpetrator of imminent harm, harm, or threatened harm should be removed from the family home rather than continuing the child's placement in foster care. The child's family shall have the burden of establishing that it is in the child's best interests to remove the child, rather than the alleged or potential perpetrator, from the family home; and
278278
279279 (C) Every reasonable effort has been or is being made to place siblings or psychologically-bonded children together, unless such placement is not in the children's best interests."
280280
281281 SECTION 11. This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.
282282
283283 SECTION 12. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
284284
285285 SECTION 13. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
286286
287287
288288
289289 INTRODUCED BY: _____________________________
290290
291291 INTRODUCED BY:
292292
293293 _____________________________
294294
295295
296296
297297
298298
299299 Report Title: Child Welfare; Custody; Visitation; Parental Alienation Syndrome; Child Protective Act; Harm; Probable Harm Description: Prohibits courts from considering parental alienation syndrome in determining child custody. Allows for the consideration of "harm" and "probable harm", rather than just "imminent harm", in Child Protective Act determinations. The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
300300
301301
302302
303303
304304
305305 Report Title:
306306
307307 Child Welfare; Custody; Visitation; Parental Alienation Syndrome; Child Protective Act; Harm; Probable Harm
308308
309309
310310
311311 Description:
312312
313313 Prohibits courts from considering parental alienation syndrome in determining child custody. Allows for the consideration of "harm" and "probable harm", rather than just "imminent harm", in Child Protective Act determinations.
314314
315315
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319319
320320
321321 The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.