STAND. COM. REP. NO. 367-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 2146

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 2146 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MARRIAGE LICENSES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to repeal the expiration of, and fees for, a civil license to solemnize marriage to assure equity among religious, judicial, and civil performers.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health.

Your Committee finds that there are no fees for licenses to solemnize marriages for religious and judicial marriage solemnizers. Your Committee further finds that the State should benefit from its sanction to duly authorize marriage officiants.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Establishing a $25 fee for all licenses to solemnize a marriage to be deposited into the general fund;

(2) Allowing the Department of Health to increase the fee, subject to certain requirements;

(3) Requiring the Department of Health to account for the collection and deposit of the fee into the general fund; and

(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2146, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2146, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

MARK M. NAKASHIMA, Chair