STAND. COM. REP. NO. 696
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2001
RE: S.B. No. 932
S.D. 2
Honorable Robert Bunda
President of the Senate
Twenty-First State Legislature
Regular Session of 2001
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 932, S.D. 1, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO GOVERNMENT,"
begs 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.
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 Committee believes that this statement of state policy will strengthen families by encouraging and promoting equal involvement of both parents in activities with their children.
Your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Making clarifying amendments to the purpose section to more accurately reflect the balanced approach of the measure, as amended by your Committee;
(2) Adding reference to mothers in the new statutory language;
(3) Exempting applicability of a preference that is in the best interests of the child or where unreasonable burdens would be imposed on government; and
(4) Adding a saving clause pertaining to impairment of existing contracts.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 932, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 932, S.D. 2.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,
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____________________________ BRIAN KANNO, Chair |
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