STAND. COM. REP. NO. 665-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 2435

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 2435 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LICENSING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to authorize the Director of Health to permit online access to apply for marriage and civil union licenses in lieu of in-person applications as authorized by rules adopted by the Department of Health.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that existing law requires couples to appear in-person before an agent authorized to grant marriage and civil union licenses. Your Committee further finds that, under the COVID-19 emergency proclamations, marriage and civil union licenses were allowed to be issued via the Internet. This was found to be efficient, effective, and convenient for staff and customers. This measure permanently allows for the issuance of marriage and civil union licenses via the Internet.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(2) 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. 2435, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2435, H.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

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

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair