STAND. COM. REP. NO.700
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2003
RE: S.B. No. 1139
S.D. 1
Honorable Robert Bunda
President of the Senate
Twenty-Second State Legislature
Regular Session of 2003
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1139, S.D. 1, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FAMILY COURT,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to increase the parent education surcharge for matrimonial actions under section 607-5.6, Hawaii Revised Statutes, from $35 to $50.
This bill also:
(1) Includes a $50 surcharge for family court proceedings under the paternity law, chapter 584, Hawaii Revised Statutes;
(2) Repeals the voluntary $15 donation requested of respondents in a matrimonial action who have minor children; and
(3) Provides for the collection of the parent education surcharge either at the time of, or subsequent to, the filing of a complaint or petition.
Parent education surcharges are used to fund the Kids First program, a mandatory educational program for divorcing parents and their minor children. Your Committee finds a critical need to expand the Kids First program to the growing number of unmarried parents litigating the parentage of their minor children. This measure will incorporate the existing voluntary $15 donation with the mandatory $35 surcharge to allow the Kids First program to extend its outreach while remaining financially self-sufficient.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1139, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,
|
____________________________ BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair |
||