STAND. COM. REP. NO.  543-16

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2016

RE:   H.B. No. 2282

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 2282 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PARENTAL RIGHTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

     (1)  Allow the family court to terminate parental rights if the court determines by clear and convincing evidence that a child was conceived during an act of rape or sexual assault perpetrated by the parent whose rights are sought to be terminated; and

     (2)  Create a presumption that the termination of parental rights is in the best interest of the child if the child was conceived as a result of rape or sexual assault.  

The Department of the Attorney General, Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, Sex Abuse Treatment Center, Hawaii Women's Coalition, American Association of University Women in Hawaii, Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, and Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest and Hawaii supported this measure.  

     Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2282, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2282, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services,

____________________________

DEE MORIKAWA, Chair