Report Title:

Family Court

Description:

Allows the legislature to request reports from the board of family court judges.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1814
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to family court.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  Section 571-5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§571-5  Board of family court judges.  A board of family court judges, which shall consist of all the State's family court judges and district family judges, is hereby created.  The board shall annually elect from among its members a chairperson who shall preside at meetings of the board.  The chairperson shall have no other authority not specifically authorized under this chapter, or any applicable rule of the supreme court, or specifically delegated by a majority of the board.  The board shall meet at stated times to be fixed by it, but not less often than once every six months, and on call of the chairperson.

     The board shall discuss and shall attempt to achieve agreement upon general policies for the conduct of the family courts and forms for use in [such] the family courts.  The board shall recommend, for adoption by the supreme court, rules of court governing procedure and practices in [such] the family courts.  The board [may], within the limitations of the facilities available to the family courts of the State, may seek the consolidation of the statistical and other data on the work and services of [such] the family courts and research studies that may be made of the problems of families and children dealt with by such courts, to the end that the treatment of children and families subject to the jurisdiction of such courts shall achieve the highest possible degree of uniformity throughout the State and to the further end that knowledge of treatment, methods, and therapeutic practices be shared among such courts.  The board, upon request, shall provide reports to the legislature containing data and information concerning the family courts as the legislature may consider necessary.  The board shall submit such reports to the legislature within a reasonable period of time.  The board may also formulate recommendations for remedial legislation.  All actions by the board shall be subject to the regulatory supervision of the chief justice of the supreme court."

     SECTION 2.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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