CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 57

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: S.B. No. 944

S.D. 1

H.D. 2

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. 944, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE UNIFORM PARENTAGE ACT,"

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) Require the Department of the Attorney General to convene a task force to recommend amendments to update existing parentage laws that reflect cisheteronormative concepts of families, parenthood, and parental rights; and

(2) Require an interim and final report to the Legislature.

Your Committee on Conference finds that existing parentage laws reflect outdated concepts of families, parenthood, conception and gestation, and parental rights. This measure establishes a new task force that builds upon the work of the task force previously established by Act 201, Session Laws of Hawaii 2021, to recommend amendments that update existing paternity laws, which will provide a more certain path and inclusion under the law for same sex couples, single parents, and children born through assisted reproductive technology and surrogacy.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Specifying that the Department of the Attorney General shall convene a task force to recommend amendments to the Hawaii Revised Statutes to update existing parentage laws that reflect outdated concepts of families, parenthood, conception and gestation, and parental rights;

(2) Adding to the task force an individual with personal knowledge of surrogacy; and

(3) Making it effective upon its approval.

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. 944, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 944, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ DELLA AU BELATTI Co-Chair	____________________________ KARL RHOADS Chair
____________________________ DAVID A. TARNAS Co-Chair