STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1869

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: S.B. No. 944

S.D. 1

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 944, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish a task force to recommend amendments to update existing parentage laws.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from three individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from two individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Judiciary, Department of Human Services, Stonewall Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, and one individual.

Your Committee finds that existing parentage laws reflect outdated, cisheteronormative concepts of families, parenthood, and parental rights. Statutory amendments are needed to address society's evolving understanding of these concepts.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion; 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 S.B. No. 944, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 944, S.D. 1, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair