STAND. COM. REP. NO.  452-14

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

 

RE:   H.B. No. 2163

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 2163 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PARENTAL PARITY,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to maintain the best interests of a child in cases where the custody of the child is disputed by ensuring inclusion of both parents and equal contact in the raising of the child, unless the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that this arrangement is not in the best interests of the child.

 

     Several concerned individuals supported this bill.  The State of Hawaii Judiciary and several concerned individuals opposed this bill.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

(1)  For cases where the custody of a minor child is disputed:

 

(A)  Deleting language that would have required the court to ensure inclusion of both parents and equal contact in the raising of the child, unless the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that this arrangement is not in the best interest of the child; and

(B)  Requiring the court to instead consider frequent, continuing, and meaningful contact of the child with each parent, unless one or both parents are unable to act in the best interests of the child;

 

(2)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate discussion; and

 

(3)  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 Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2163, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2163, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

MELE CARROLL, Chair