Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 2337, H.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to change the amount of the filing fee for a petition when an individual seeks a name change.

Specifically, the bill changes the filing fee from $100 to an unspecified amount.

Currently, the amount of the filing fee required to accompany the petition for a name change is $100. In 1995, the filing fee was raised from $10 to $50. The fee was increased again in 1998 from $50 to $100. In addition to the charges for the required publication of the name change in a newspaper of general circulation in the State, the cost of a name change may reach nearly $200.

Your Committee believes that the current filing fee and publication costs make a name change prohibitive for some residents, particularly our seniors who frequently live on a fixed income. This measure will make a legal change of name more affordable for all Hawaii residents.

Upon further consideration, your Committee has amended this measure by changing the unspecified amount of the new filing fee. As a result, the net effect of this bill, as amended, is to reduce the amount of the filing fee from $100 to $50.

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 H.B. No. 2337, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2337, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.