THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
733 |
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019 |
S.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO PERSISTENT NONSUPPORT.
BE IT
ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. Chapter 709, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§709- Persistent nonsupport in the first degree. (1)
A person commits the offense of persistent nonsupport in the first
degree if:
(a) The person
knowingly and persistently fails to provide support in which the person is
legally obliged to provide to a spouse, child, or other dependent for five
years or longer; or
(b) The person is
knowingly $30,000 or more in arrears of support in which the person is legally
obliged to provide to a spouse, child, or other dependent.
(2) For the purposes of this section,
"support" includes but is not limited to food, shelter, clothing,
education, and other necessary care as determined by law.
(3) Persistent nonsupport in the first degree is
a class C felony."
SECTION 2. Section 571-14, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:
"(a)
Except as provided in sections 603-21.5 and 604-8, the court shall have
exclusive original jurisdiction:
(1) To
try any offense committed against a child by the child's parent or guardian or
by any other person having the child's legal or physical custody, and any
violation of section 707-726, 707-727, 709-902, 709‑903, 709-903.5,
709-904, 709-905, 709-906, 709- , or 302A-1135, whether or
not included in other provisions of this paragraph or paragraph (2);
(2) To
try any adult charged with:
(A) Deserting,
abandoning, or failing to provide support for any person in violation of law;
(B) An
offense, other than a felony, against the person of the defendant's husband or
wife;
(C) Any
violation of an order issued pursuant to chapter 586; or
(D) Any
violation of an order issued by a family court judge.
In any case within paragraph (1) or (2), the court, in its discretion, may waive its jurisdiction over the offense charged;
(3) In
all proceedings under chapter 580, and in all proceedings under chapter 584;
(4) In
proceedings under chapter 575, the Uniform Desertion and Nonsupport Act, and
under chapter 576B, the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act;
(5) For
commitment of an adult alleged to be mentally defective or mentally ill;
(6) In
all proceedings for support between parent and child or between husband and
wife;
(7) In
all proceedings for pre-trial detention or waiver of jurisdiction over an adult
who was a child at the time of an alleged criminal act as provided in section
571-13 or 571-22;
(8) In
all proceedings under chapter 586, Domestic Abuse Protective Orders; and
(9) For
the protection of vulnerable adults under chapter 346, part X.
In any case within paragraph (3), (4), or (6), the attorney general, through the child support enforcement agency, may exercise concurrent jurisdiction as provided in chapter 576E."
SECTION 3. Section 577-9, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"§577-9 Jury trial, when. In trials of any person over the age of
majority arising under sections 709-902, 709-903, 709-904, [and]
709-905, and 709- , the person proceeded against shall have
the right to a trial by jury which shall be granted as in other cases, unless
waived. If the finding of the jury is
against the person tried their verdict shall so state, in which event the
court, in its discretion, may enter such judgment as it deems proper in the
premises."
SECTION 4. Section 577-10, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"§577-10 Court having jurisdiction. The family courts shall have exclusive
jurisdiction of all cases coming within sections 709-902, 709-903, 709-904, [and]
709-905[;] and 709- ; provided that upon complaint
made to any prosecuting officer of the commission of any offense coming within
sections 709-902, 709-903, 709-904, [and] 709-905, and
709- , the district judge within whose circuit the offense is
alleged to have been committed may issue the judge's warrant for the arrest of
the person accused of such offense, and commit the accused to the family court
for the required proceedings."
SECTION 5. Section 709-903, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"§709-903 Persistent nonsupport[.] in the
second degree. (1) A person commits the offense of persistent
nonsupport in the second degree if the person knowingly and persistently
fails to provide support which the person can provide and which the person
knows the person is legally obliged to provide to a spouse, child, or other
dependent.
(2)
["Support"] For the purposes of this section,
"support" includes but is not limited to food, shelter, clothing,
education, and other necessary care as determined by law.
(3) Persistent nonsupport in the second degree is a misdemeanor."
SECTION 6. This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.
SECTION 7. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 8. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
Report Title:
Persistent Nonsupport; Spouse; Child; Felony
Description:
Establishes the felony offense of persistent nonsupport in the first degree when a person knowingly and persistently fails to provide support to a child, spouse, or other dependent to whom the person has a legal obligation of support for five years or longer, or is $30,000 or more in arrears. (SD1)
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