STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1263-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.B. No. 2663

S.D. 1

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 S.B. No. 2663, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FILING FEES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to alter the filing fee schedules for actions to determine father and child relationships to achieve parity with divorce cases by:

(1) Establishing an initial filing fee of $100; and

(2) Eliminating the filing fee to file motions.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and Health Committee of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i.

Your Committee finds that this measure will establish clear filing fees for paternity actions which will reduce the burden, confusion, and uncertainty for litigants under the existing filing fee schedule.

Your Committee has amended this measure by 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 S.B. No. 2663, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2663, S.D. 1, 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