HB1396

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1396
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to custodial interference.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. Section 707-726, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§707-726 Custodial interference in the first degree. (1) A person commits the offense of custodial interference in the first degree if:

(a) The person:

(i) Intentionally or knowingly violates a court order issued pursuant to chapter 586, or intentionally or knowingly takes, entices, conceals, or detains the minor from any other person who has a right to custody pursuant to a court order, judgment, [or] decree[;], or the voluntary establishment of paternity; and

(ii) Removes the minor from the State;

(b) The person intentionally or knowingly takes, entices, conceals, or detains a minor less than eleven years old from that minor's lawful custodian, knowing that the person had no right to do so; or

(c) The person, in the absence of a court order determining custody or visitation rights, intentionally or knowingly takes, detains, conceals, or entices away a minor with the intent to deprive another person or a public agency of their right to custody, and removes the minor from the State.

(2) It is an affirmative defense to a prosecution under this section that the person had "good cause" for the violation of a court order issued pursuant to chapter 586, for the taking, detaining, concealing, or enticing away of the minor, or for removing the minor from the State; provided that the person asserting the affirmative defense filed a report with the clerk of the family court detailing the whereabouts of the minor, the person who took, enticed, detained, concealed, or removed the minor or child, and the circumstances of the event as soon as the filing of the report was practicable; and provided further that the person asserting the affirmative defense also filed a request for a custody order as soon as the filing of the request was practicable.

As used in this section, "good cause" means a good faith and reasonable belief that the taking, detaining, concealing, enticing away, or removing of the minor is necessary to protect the minor from immediate bodily injury.

(3) The identity and address of the person reporting under subsection (2) shall remain confidential unless the information is released pursuant to a court order.

(4) Custodial interference in the first degree is a class C felony.

(5) For purposes of this section, "voluntary establishment of paternity" means that the persons establishing paternity at the time of the minor's birth signed the minor's birth certificate and filed a voluntary establishment of paternity form with the birthing hospital or department of health."

SECTION 2. This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.

SECTION 3. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

Custodial Interference; Voluntary Establishment of Paternity

Description:

Includes in the crime of custodial interference in the first degree the taking, enticing, concealing, or detaining of a minor from a person who has a right to custody pursuant to a Voluntary Establishment of Paternity.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

HB 1396: RELATING TO CUSTODIAL INTERFERENCE.

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