Mixed testimony as committee considers liability protections for child‑welfare contractors

The joint committee heard competing testimony on HB1645 HD3, a bill that supporters say would help child‑welfare service providers obtain liability coverage and continue critical operations, while opponents warned it could leave victims under‑compensated.

Matt Sujimura of the insurance division described national attention to the issue, noted work with the NAIC and mentioned exploring a captive insurance option to pool risk; the division urged the legislature to consider appropriations to account for higher contract costs. The Hawaii Association for Justice urged strong opposition, arguing removal of joint and several liability would harm victims and might not achieve the bill's stated purpose of reducing premiums.

Representatives from Parents and Children Together and other nonprofits, including a first‑hand account from Tricia Kajimura, said steep insurance renewals threatened their ability to provide services and asked for liability protections similar to those afforded the state; they requested that indemnification language be restored or included. Committee members pressed whether the bill would actually reduce premiums; witnesses and the insurance division said they could not definitively say it would. The chair asked the insurance commissioner to investigate causes for premium increases before broader statutory changes.

The committee indicated it would continue deliberations, adopt some amendments requested by providers and urge further study by the insurance commissioner; the transcript records a committee recommendation to pass with amendments and to keep the conversation going.