STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2993

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1859

H.D. 2

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 1859, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CHILDREN,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to allow a minor who is at least sixteen years old to petition the Family Court for emancipation under certain conditions.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Young Progressives Demanding Action – Hawai‘i and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services, Hawaii Youth Services Network, and one individual.

Your Committee finds that minors have few rights and responsibilities and depend on parents and guardians to access resources and privileges. However, some minors may face significant and harmful situations, such as being physically or emotionally abused by their parents or guardians, and want to seek emancipation. Your Committee notes that under this measure, roughly one thousand minors in the State will be eligible to seek emancipation. This measure will empower minors to make financial‑, educational-, and health-related decisions necessary to attain their personal aspirations.

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

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. 1859, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1859, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

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

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JOSH GREEN, Chair