CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 96

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: S.B. No. 828

H.D. 1

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sirs:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 828, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DIVORCE,"

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) Grant exclusive original jurisdiction in matters of divorce to the family court of the circuit in which an applicant is domiciled at the time the application is filed; and

(2) Repeal the requirement that a person be domiciled or physically present in the State for a continuous period of at least six months before applying for a divorce.

Your Committee on Conference finds that existing law often places unnecessary burdens on persons seeking divorce. This measure clarifies the jurisdiction of the family court and enables individuals to complete a divorce in the State even if they are unable to be physically present in the State for a continuous period of time before filing.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by inserting an effective date of January 1, 2022.

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. 828, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 828, 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

____________________________ LINDA ICHIYAMA Co-Chair	____________________________ KARL RHOADS Chair
____________________________ TY J.K. CULLEN Co-Chair