STAND. COM. REP. NO. 569

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 1158

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Human Services and Public Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 1158 entitled:

 

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

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to create a Citizen's Family Law Advisory Committee to be placed, for administrative purposes, in the Judiciary.

 

     The National Association of Social Workers and three individuals submitted testimony in support of this measure.  The Domestic Violence Clearinghouse and Legal Hotline submitted testimony in support of the intent of this measure.  The Judiciary submitted testimony in opposition.

 

     Your Committee finds that this measure creates an ongoing process within the Judiciary by which Judiciary personnel, Family Court professionals, related service providers, and the public can participate in and provide feedback about the Family Court and family law matters.

 

     It is the Committee's intent to support openness in and public feedback about the Family Court administration and process.  Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive changes for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services and Public Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1158, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1158, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Labor.

 

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

 

 

 

____________________________

SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair