STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1488

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

 

RE:   S.B. No. 529

      S.D. 1

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 529, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

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

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to support survivors of rape or sexual assault by:

 

     (1)  Prohibiting family courts from awarding custody of or visitation with a child to a natural parent who has been convicted of rape or sexual assault if the child was conceived as a result of that offense; and

 

     (2)  Authorizing the family courts to terminate parental rights, with respect to a child, of a natural parent who has been convicted of rape or sexual assault if the child was conceived as a result of the rape or sexual assault.

 

     The Hawaii Commission on the Status of Women, the Sex Abuse Treatment Center, and several concerned individuals testified in support of this measure.

 


     Your Committee notes that both men and women can be the victim of sexual assault or rape.  Therefore, your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Changing the language of its purpose section to ensure that it is gender neutral; and

 

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style. 

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 529, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 529, S.D. 1, H.D. 1.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair