STAND. COM. REP. NO. 827

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: H.B. No. 339

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 339, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE FAMILY COURT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to expedite the process for appealing family court orders by making the orders appealable directly to the Hawaii Supreme Court instead of the Intermediate Court of Appeals.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Judiciary.

Your Committee finds that some family court cases have taken up to eight years to be resolved. Your Committee further finds that the long delays experienced by parents and children in these cases raises due process concerns. This measure will expedite the resolution of family court cases by making family court orders directly appealable to the Hawaii Supreme Court.

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. 339, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

MARK M. NAKASHIMA, Chair