STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1296

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 485

       H.D. 3

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 485, H.D. 3, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MARRIAGE,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to require the Department of Health to issue, upon receipt of required supporting documentation, new marriage certificates to individuals who have changed their gender, sex, and, if applicable, name.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health; Hawai‘i Civil Rights Commission; North Shore Ko‘olau Diversity Collective; Stonewall Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i; Rainbow Family 808.com, Inc.; and nine individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that transgender individuals experience high levels of discrimination in all aspects of their lives.  To help address discrimination, in 2019, the State expanded gender designation options to include the gender designation of "X" for state driver's licenses and identification cards.  This measure will similarly advance more equitable treatment for the transgender community by allowing individuals to change their marriage certificates to reflect their gender identity.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health and Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 485, H.D. 3, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 485, H.D. 3, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health and Human Services,

 

 

 

________________________________

JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair