STAND. COM. REP. NO. 359

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 429

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred S.B. No. 429 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO GENDER IDENTIFICATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Require a driver's license to include a person's full legal name, date of birth, gender category, residence address, and license or identification card number; and

(2) Include a third option of gender identification for a driver's license and state identification card.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation; Hawai‘i State Commission on the Status of Women; LGBT Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii; Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network; O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i; Hawaii Women's Coalition; and twenty-four individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that Hawaii has one of the largest percentages of transgender individuals in the United States. Your Committee further finds that gender and sex markers on a form of identification can cause discrimination and invasive questions from individuals, creating uncomfortable situations for transgender and non-gender conforming individuals. Your Committee also finds that mandatory binary classification does not accommodate the wide range of natural biological variations or gender expressions. This measure will offer the transgender and gender non-conforming community the opportunity to put a gender marker that more aligns to their identity by including another option for a gender marker.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 429 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation,

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LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair