STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2345

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 3008

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Labor, to which was referred S.B. No. 3008 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 provide an alternative to serving notice by publication for impoverished litigants in all family court matters after a due and diligent search for the defendant.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Legal Aid Society of Hawaii.

     Your Committee finds that the rates to serve notice by publication in a daily newspaper of general circulation have increased dramatically over the past several years.  This rate increase has made it difficult for impoverished litigants to find the funds necessary to cover the publication costs for legal notices.  This measure will assist in alleviating this financial burden by allowing impoverished litigants after a due diligent search, upon failing to locate a defendant to serve notice by posting pleadings at the courthouse and mailing pleadings to the defendant's or respondent's closest known relative.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Labor that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3008 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary and Labor,

____________________________

CLAYTON HEE, Chair