Informing the Legislature that on May 27, 2026, the Governor signed the following bill into law: HB2289 HD1 SD2 CD1 (ACT 051).

2026 Regular Session

The AVINS Special Fund is no longer capped, allowing spending above $600,000 to fund real-time victim notifications with revenues from commissaries and inmate phone commissions.

Received.

#act051

Summary of GM 1151 (HB 2289, HD 1, SD 2, CD 1) – Hawaii, 2026

Purpose and intent

The Act repeals the statutory expenditure ceiling on the Automated Victim Information and Notification System (AVINS) Special Fund.

It aims to ensure sustainable funding for AVINS by allowing expenditures to exceed the previous cap, given rising operating costs and increasing demand for victim notification services.

Key provisions and changes

Establishes that the AVINS Special Fund (under section 353-136, Hawaii Revised Statutes) will no longer be capped at a fixed annual expenditure amount.

The AVINS Special Fund sources:

4% surcharge on the price of items purchased by inmates from correctional facility commissaries (revenue deposited into the AVINS fund).
Proceeds or revenues from commissions related to telephone service agreements for inmate telephone services (deposited into the AVINS fund).

Allowed uses of fund money:

Development and operating expenses of AVINS, including salaries and benefits for positions authorized by the legislature.
Other operating costs necessary for AVINS operations and sustaining statewide service.

The existing cap previously limited annual expenditures to $600,000 (subject to adjustments for payroll and operating costs). That cap is repealed.

Provisions regarding federal funds:

Federal funds shall not be transferred to or deposited into the AVINS Special Fund.

The fund currently has a balance exceeding $1.5 million, and the bill notes projected growth in both payroll and operating costs for AVINS, indicating the cap was constraining needed investments.

Affected entities and individuals

Victims, victim advocates, and the general public relying on AVINS for real-time notifications about offender custody changes, parole hearings, and related events.

Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DOCR) and its Victim Notification Services Office (VNSO), which administer AVINS.

Inmates and correctional facilities (via the commissary surcharge).

Entities involved in inmate telephone services (via related commissions).

Procedural and timeline aspects

The bill was enacted as Act 051, approved by the Governor, with the signing date May 27, 2026.

The Act takes effect upon approval (immediately or as specified by the act’s language—no delayed effective date is indicated).

The presence of an annual cap repeal implies a shift in how appropriations are managed for AVINS, tied to the fund’s revenues and statutory authority rather than a hard ceiling.

Practical impact

AVINS can scale its spending to align with actual operating needs, staffing, system upgrades, maintenance, and expanded services without being constrained by a $600,000 annual cap.

The modification supports continued, reliable, real-time victim notifications statewide, potentially improving victim safety and access to information.

Revenue streams (commissary surcharges and telephone service commissions) will continue to fund AVINS, with revenues directed to system development and operations rather than being limited by the prior cap.

If you'd like, I can provide a quick comparison to prior law (pre-Act 051) or a bullet-pointed “what changes for each stakeholder” section.