STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3055

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2694

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Human Services and Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 2694, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FEES,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require the Department of Health to furnish, free of charge, certified copies of birth certificates for individuals who are homeless.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Domestic Violence Action Center, and Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Governor's Coordinator of Homelessness, Department of Human Services, and Department of Health.

Your Committees find that many homeless individuals who struggle with housing insecurity or re-entry after incarceration are often faced with barriers when acquiring identification documents, such as not having sufficient funds to obtain such documentation. Your Committees further find that identification documents such as birth certificates are often necessary to obtain a driver's license, apply for a job, and establish eligibility for certain public benefits and services. This measure will allow homeless individuals to request and receive certified copies of their birth certificate for no cost.

Your Committees have amended this measure by inserting a sunset date of June 30, 2021.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services and Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2694, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2694, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Human Services and Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health,

________________________________ ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair

________________________________ JOSH GREEN, Chair