Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 527, H.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to clarify the definition of a "registering tribunal" and amend the notice requirements for proceeding to contest the validity or enforcement of a registered child support order.

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Department of the Attorney General.

Your Committee finds that the current law is vague and confusing as to the proper forum for contesting the registration of "foreign" order of support. Further, service requirements are limited to notices regarding hearings to consider a contest of the validity of enforcement of a registered order. In such cases, the party contesting the registration of an order has already been served by way of personal service or certified mail, return receipt requested, or a notice of the registration of the order. This measure clarifies that the proper forum for contesting registration of a foreign order is the tribunal of the registering state. In addition, the measure eliminates service of the notice of hearing to consider the contest as unnecessary.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health and Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 527, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.