CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 200-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: S.B. No. 3204

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir and Madam:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 3204, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FAMILY RESILIENCE PILOT PROGRAM,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Establish a two-year Family Resilience Pilot Program within the Office of Wellness and Resilience; and

(2) Appropriate Temporary Assistance for Needy Families funds.

Your Committee on Conference finds that more programs and resources are necessary to increase family resilience and reduce the risk of child abuse or neglect. Many families at high risk of entering the child welfare system are unaware of available services or how to access them, or public benefits are not available to address the economic or other fiscal challenge they are facing. Your Committee on Conference further finds that in its final report submitted to the Legislature, the Malama Ohana Working Group, established by Act 86, Session Laws of Hawaii 2023, recommended the establishment of primary prevention and universal support programs that are trauma-informed and culturally responsive in an effort to divert children and families away from involvement with the child welfare system. This measure establishes a Family Resilience Pilot Program to allow the State to evaluate outcomes, identify best practices, and ensure that future efforts relating to building family resiliency are both effective and accountable.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an appropriation amount of $600,000 for the Family Resilience Pilot Program, including the contracting of services to implement and operate the program;

(2) Clarifying that the appropriation for the Family Resilience Pilot Program shall be expended by the Department of Human Services, rather than the Office of Wellness and Resilience;

(3) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2026; and

(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3204, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3204, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ LISA MARTEN Co-Chair	____________________________ JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA Chair
____________________________ DAISY HARTSFIELD Co-Chair	____________________________ DRU KANUHA Co-Chair