STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1484_______

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 1999

                                 RE: H.C.R. No. 171
                                     H.D. 1




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs, to which
was referred H.C.R. No. 171 entitled: 

     "HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING A STUDY OF THE
     IMPACT OF A RELIGIOUS FREEDOM RESTORATION ACT IN HAWAII,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this resolution is to request that the
Legislative Reference Bureau study the impact of adopting a state
version of the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

     Testimony in support of this resolution was received from
the Hawaii Catholic Conference, the Hawaii Family Forum, the
Coalition for the Free Exercise of Religion, the American Civil
Liberties Union of Hawaii, and two concerned individuals.

     Your Committee finds that an assessment of a state version
of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act would be in the best
interests of the citizenry of this State.

     Your Committee has amended this resolution by:

     (1)  Requesting that the Legislative Reference Bureau study
          how adopting a compelling interest standard for
          analyzing burdens on religious exercise will impact
          existing civil rights laws and claims; 

     (2)  Including language allowing the Legislative Reference
          Bureau to consider the impact of the adoption of a

 
 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1484_______
                                 Page 2

 
          Religious Freedom Restoration Act on various issues;
          and

     (3)  Making technical, non-substantive amendments for
          purposes of clarity and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to
this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose
of H.C.R. No. 171, as amended herein, and recommends that it be
referred to the Committee on Legislative Management, in the form
attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 171, H.D. 1.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Judiciary &
                                   Hawaiian Affairs,



                                   ______________________________
                                   PAUL T. OSHIRO, Chair