STAND. COM. REP. NO. 763

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 957

       S.D. 1

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 957, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FAMILY COURT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to create a Citizen's Family Law Advisory Committee, comprised of a broad spectrum of citizens, to assist the Judiciary and the Legislature in improving the family court.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from nine individuals.

Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from Glennard Fong, Chief Court Administrator, First Circuit, The Judiciary, State of Hawaii; and one individual.

     Your Committee finds that the family court comprises a significant portion of unmet legal needs within the community.  This measure provides within the Judiciary an ongoing and necessary means by which judiciary personnel, family court professionals, related service providers, and the public can collaborate to improve the family court.

     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. 957, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair