Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 88 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Auditor to conduct a program audit on the efficacy of license suspensions for the nonpayment of child support.

The Attorney General submitted testimony in support of this measure.

Your Committee finds that in 2003, the State estimated that $568,000,000 was not paid in child support, representing a twenty-nine per cent collection rate by the State. The Legislature, in response, enacted section 576D-13(a), Hawaii Revised Statutes, to provide for the denial or suspension of certain licenses issued by the State. License suspension is one of the federally required methods used by the State to enforce the payment of child support. Despite the Legislature's attempt to address this problem, much remains unknown about the efficacy of license suspension for the nonpayment of child support. Thus, an audit to determine the efficacy of license suspensions is appropriate.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 88 and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs.