Report Title:

Family Bill of Rights Working Group

WHEREAS, in the State of Hawaii there are over 6,000 divorces occurring annually; and

WHEREAS, although there is a legitimate need for some of these to be heard before the presently configured Family Court, many of these actions are needlessly tying up our court calendars, costing taxpayer dollars, wasting money on legal fees that would be best spent on providing for children, and worst of all violating the Family Court's number one objective by not providing an outcome that is in the best interests of the child; and

WHEREAS, with the limited amount of knowledge judges have in regard to the contestants that appear before them, the judiciary needs the support of auxiliary services, such as mediation services, as a first resort to resolve disputes as well as guidelines and rules to assist them in reaching decisions that are in line both with changes in today's society as well as in compliance with sound social policy; and

WHEREAS, a Family Bill of Rights will take a substantial burden off families, the Judiciary, and taxpayers; and

WHEREAS, this legislation will spell out family members' rights in laymen's terms and make remedies simpler and more affordable to obtain; and

WHEREAS, one of the goals in this process is to involve and provide resolution for those whom the present system alienates, marginalizes, and disenfranchises; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-First Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2001, that the Department of Human Services is requested to organize a working group to address the issues raised in the Family Bill of Rights and to discuss potential legislation for introduction in the next legislative session; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group shall include representatives from the Judiciary and other interested parties; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Department of Human Services, the Judiciary, Hawaii Coalition for Dads, and Parents and Children Together.