STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1579-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

RE:   S.B. No. 2223

      H.D. 2

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 2223, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CHANGE OF NAME,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to allow the family court to change a minor child's name in a divorce proceeding if the court determines that either parent has sexually abused the child and the change of name is in the best interest of the child.  

The Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, Sex Abuse Treatment Center, and About Face testified in support of this measure.  The Family Law Section of the Hawaii State Bar Association and one concerned individual testified in opposition to this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by removing the sexual abuse requirement, but still allowing the family court to change a minor child's name in a divorce proceeding if at least one party to the divorce is the parent of that child and such a change is in the best interest of the child.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2223, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2223, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair