STAND. COM. REP. NO. 772

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 558

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 558 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO NAMES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to allow parties to a marriage or civil union to choose any middle or last name to use upon the marriage or civil union.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the LGBT Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, and three individuals.

Your Committee finds that existing law allows spouses in a marriage or partners in a civil union to declare the middle and last names each will use upon marriage or civil union, as long as the middle or last name chosen by each was legally used at any time, past or present, by either spouse or partner. This measure will provide more flexibility for married persons or civil union partners by allowing them to choose any middle or last name, regardless if it was legally used by either party, upon marriage or civil union.

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. 558 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

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

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KARL RHOADS, Chair