STAND. COM. REP. NO.224
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2001
RE: H.B. No. 649
H.D. 1
Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twenty-First State Legislature
Regular Session of 2001
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 649 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO VITAL STATISTICS,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this bill as received by your Committee is to:
(1) Amend the eligibility requirements for the issuance of certified copies of marriage and divorce certificates;
(2) Increase the fees for certified copies of birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates issued by the Department of Health (Department); and
(3) Increase the amount from the collected fees for certified copies that will be deposited into the Vital Statistics Improvement Fund.
The Department submitted testimony in support of this measure. However, after further review, the Department felt that language, determined to be unnecessary by the Attorney General's Office could be deleted from the bill. Moreover, the Department felt that the increase in fees could be amended.
The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands supported the intent of the measure but opposed the increase in fees stating that it could create an undue burden on native Hawaiians. Ka Lahui Hawaii also testified in opposition to this measure due to the increase in fees.
Your Committee realizes that vital statistics are an important means of capturing data utilized in making decisions to improve the public health and well being of the general public. Moreover, data provided by vital statistics can also point to areas of public need where allocations should be made. Thus, vital statistics play a vital role in shaping the general welfare of our society.
Funds are necessary to maintain and improve the current vital statistics system. However, your Committee also realizes that the increase in fees may cause economic hardships, especially among those of native Hawaiian ancestry.
Considering the concerns of all involved parties, your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Removing amendments to section 338-18, Hawaii Revised Statutes;
(2) Removing the increase in costs of certified copies;
(3) Increasing the allocation for the Vital Statistics Improvement Fund for each first copy issued from $1 to $3; and
(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of clarity and style.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 649, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 649, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,
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____________________________ DENNIS A. ARAKAKI, Chair |