STAND. COM. REP. NO. 760

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: H.B. No. 248

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 248 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to authorize members of secular or non-religious organizations to solemnize marriages and civil unions.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health and two individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that this measure will ensure equal treatment of religious and secular wedding and civil union practitioners regarding the rite of marriage by establishing a category of authorized, secular wedding and civil union practitioners known as "civil celebrants."

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Requiring every person or society licensed to solemnize marriages or civil unions to pay a $40 fee for each marriage ceremony or civil union solemnization performed within the State; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 248, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 248, H.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

MARK M. NAKASHIMA, Chair