STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3182

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                   

 

RE:     H.B. No. 2435

        H.D. 1

        S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 2435, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LICENSING,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to authorize the Director of Health to permit synchronous online access to apply for marriage and civil union licenses in lieu of in-person applications, as specified in rules adopted by the Department pursuant to chapter 91, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health.

 

     Your Committee finds that the Department of Health issues approximately twenty thousand marriage licenses each year.  Existing law requires an in-person appointment for the issuance of a license to marry; however, during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, an emergency order temporarily authorized the issuance of marriage licenses online.  With the rebounding economy and increased number of weddings in the State, this measure reinstates the issuance of marriage licenses through online access to promote departmental efficiency and improve customer service.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Making it effective upon its approval; and

 

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

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health and Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2435, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2435, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health and Human Services,

 

 

 

________________________________

JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair