STAND. COM. REP. NO. 583-20

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2020

RE: H.B. No. 2379

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 2379 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DIVORCE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Grant exclusive original jurisdiction in matters of annulment, divorce, and separation and other certain cases to the family court of the circuit in which an applicant is domiciled at the time the application is filed; and

(2) Remove the time requirement to be physically present in the State to file and complete a divorce in the State.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Domestic Violence Action Center and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Judiciary.

Your Committee finds that this measure clarifies the jurisdiction of the Family Court and enables individuals to file for annulment, divorce, or separation in the State even if they are unable to have been continuously physically present in the State for a certain period of time prior to filing.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

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 H.B. No. 2379, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2379, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

CHRIS LEE, Chair