Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Labor and Public Employment, to which was referred S.B. No. 932, S.D. 2, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to prohibit state and county contracts, programs, services, and workforce policies from favoring or preferring one parent over another in child raising.

The measure exempts preferences that are determined to be in the best interest of a child or that would impose an unreasonable burden on the State or counties by removing a preference in existing contracts, programs, services, or workforce policies.

Testimony in support of this bill was submitted by Senator Brian Kanno, Parents and Children Together, the Hawaii Coalition for Dads, and Mr. Rick Hoo. The Department of Human Services supported the bill's intent.

Your Committee recognizes that research has indicated that the role fathers play in raising children is significant. Although it is undeniable that both parents play a critical role in raising healthy, well-adjusted children, there are marked differences in outcomes when a father is actively involved in child rearing activities. Children without fathers are more likely to drop out of school, abuse drugs, or engage in other illegal activities.

On June 16, 1995, President Clinton requested federal agencies to review their programs and policies to strengthen the role of fathers in families. Certain programs and services for families or parents may serve only one parent, often unintentionally. Your Committee believes this measure will help both parents to have equal access to state and county contracts, programs, services, and workforce policies and will improve the lives of families in Hawaii.

Your Committee has amended the measure by adding language proposed by the Senate in response to testimony submitted by the Department of Human Services. The new language requires state and county agencies to review their policies to determine whether a preference exists that favors one parent over the other. If such a preference exists, the agency shall eliminate it by encouraging all parents to be included. The bill also has been amended to make the new statutory section effective June 30, 2003.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Labor and Public Employment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 932, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 932, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs.