Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Transportation, Military Affairs and Government Operations and Labor, to which was referred S.B. No. 932 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to prohibit preferences in government contracts, programs, services, and workforce policies that favor one parent over another in the raising of children.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Coalition for Dads and Parents and Children Together. Testimony in opposition was received from three private individuals.

This measure recognizes the role of fathers in the raising of children and in the health and well-being of families and ensures that government will be more thoughtful about the effect of its policies and practices. Your Committees believe that this statement of state policy will strengthen families by encouraging and promoting equal involvement of both parents in activities with their children.

Your Committees have amended this measure by deleting reference to parents of different sexes or the same sex, as being unnecessary, and making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for proper drafting.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Transportation, Military Affairs and Government Operations and Labor that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 932, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 932, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.