CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 4

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: S.B. No. 110

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

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. 110, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO GENDER-NEUTRAL TERMINOLOGY,"

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 require gender-specific terminology used in adoption and annulment, divorce, and separation matters to be construed in a gender-neutral manner.

Your Committee on Conference finds that existing laws maintain gender-specific terminology that is not only exclusionary, but also erases the experiences and identities of individuals who do not fit into the gender binary. This measure will ensure that all individuals are recognized and respected in the legal system regardless of their gender identity.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by making it effective on January 1, 2024.

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. 110, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 110, S.D. 1, 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

____________________________ DAVID A. TARNAS Chair

____________________________ KARL RHOADS Chair