STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1082-18

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2018

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1859

      H.D. 2

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 1859, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CHILDREN,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to allow a minor who is at least 16 years old to petition the Family Court for emancipation under certain conditions.

 

     The Hawaii Psychological Association testified in support of this measure.  The Department of the Attorney General, Department of Human Services, and Hawaii Youth Services Network provided comments.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Deleting redundant language allowing the court to enter an order declaring a minor emancipated if the minor's parents or legal guardians are unable or unwilling to provide basic material support to the minor or have deserted or abandoned the minor;

 

     (2)  Clarifying the necessary elements that must be met before the Family Court grants a petition for emancipation and finds that the minor understands the rights, responsibilities, and alternatives, if any, to emancipation; and

 

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1859, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1859, H.D. 2.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

SCOTT Y. NISHIMOTO, Chair