CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 69

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 349

H.D. 2

S.D. 1

C.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sirs:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the House of Representatives to the amendments proposed by the Senate in H.B. No. 349, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CHILDREN,"

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) Expand the original jurisdiction of the Family Court to include proceedings concerning the emancipation of minors;

(2) Specify the rights of an emancipated minor; and

(3) Establishing procedures for the emancipation of minors.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Requiring any state agency, rather than a youth service organization recognized by the Department of Human Services, to file a petition on behalf of a minor seeking emancipation;

(2) Removing the requirement that the Family Court require a minor petitioning for emancipation to undergo a mental health evaluation;

(3) Removing the requirement that the minor or the minor's parents or guardian pay for the court-ordered mental health evaluation;

(4) Changing the effective date to January 1, 2024; and

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

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 H.B. No. 349, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 349, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

____________________________ KARL RHOADS Chair	____________________________ JOHN M. MIZUNO Co-Chair
	____________________________ DAVID A. TARNAS Co-Chair
	____________________________ JENNA TAKENOUCHI Co-Chair