STAND. COM. REP. NO. 635

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2005

RE: H.B. No. 971

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 971 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FAMILY COURT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to address issues related to child custody by:

(1) Requiring the development of a parenting plan in cases where joint custody has been granted by the court;

(2) Requiring the court to assume that joint custody is in the best interests of a minor child, unless successfully rebutted; and

(3) Redefining joint custody as shared parenting or equal parenting time.

The Children's Rights Council, and numerous concerned individuals testified in support of this bill. The Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, and Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence opposed the bill. The Judiciary offered comments on the measure.

 

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. 971 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

 

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

 

____________________________

ALEX M. SONSON, Chair