STAND. COM. REP. NO.1265

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: H.B. No. 135

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 135, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO INTERNATIONAL MATCHMAKING ORGANIZATIONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish a new chapter in the Hawaii Revised Statutes, that requires international matchmaking organizations doing business in this State, to notify foreign persons recruited by the organization as potential partners, that criminal and marital history information on Hawaii residents who are using the organization's services is available upon request.

Testimony in support of this measure was received from the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, the Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, a Washington State Representative from the 11th House district, and two concerned citizens. Na Loio supported the measure and requested an amendment. The Office of the Attorney General opposed the measure as written. A concern citizen provided comments on related matters.

The Immigration and Naturalization Service estimates that between 4000 and 6000 United States citizens marry spouses who were introduced to them through a for-profit international matchmaking organization. Currently, about 2700 international matchmaking organizations operate worldwide, approximately 500 in the United States, and at least a dozen operating in Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that the international matchmaking organization, a multimillion dollar industry in which it is not unusual for United States citizens to spend $10,000 to attain a foreign marriage partner, is an industry largely unregulated. Your Committee further finds that many foreign women from poor economic conditions are recruited by these organizations. These women often suffer domestic abuse and are disadvantaged because of language barriers, isolation from family and friends, and unfamiliarity with state and federal laws. For these reasons, your Committee believes criminal and marital history information should be made available to foreign persons contemplating relationships with Hawaii residents.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 135, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

COLLEEN HANABUSA, Chair