Bill Text: HI HB1799 | 2014 | Regular Session | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Name Change; Children; Sexual Abuse; Divorce

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-02-04 - Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on JUD with Jordan voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Yamane excused (1). [HB1799 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2014-HB1799-Introduced.html

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1799

TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2014

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO CHANGE OF NAME.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  Section 574-5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

     "(a)  It shall be unlawful to change any name adopted or conferred under this chapter, except:

     (1)  Upon an order of the lieutenant governor;

     (2)  By a final order, decree, or judgment of the family court issued as follows:

         (A)  When in an adoption proceeding a change of name of the person to be adopted is requested and the court includes the change of name in the adoption decree;

         (B)  When in a divorce proceeding either party to the proceeding requests to [resume]:

              (i)  Resume the middle name or names and the last name used by the party prior to the marriage or civil union or a middle name or names and last name declared and used during any prior marriage or civil union and the court includes the change of names in the divorce decree; or

             (ii)  Change the name of a child who is under the age of majority, in instances when either parent has been convicted of child sexual abuse, as defined in section 588-2, on the child, or in instances when the court determines that it is in that child's best interest to order a change of name notwithstanding the absence of a conviction;

         (C)  When in a proceeding for a change of name of a legitimate or legitimated minor initiated by one parent, the family court, upon proof that the parent initiating the name change has made all reasonable efforts to locate and notify the other parent of the name change proceeding but has not been able to locate, notify, or elicit a response from the other parent, and after an appropriate hearing, orders a change of name determined to be in the best interests of the minor; provided that the family court may waive the notice requirement to the noninitiating, noncustodial parent where the court finds that the waiver is necessary for the protection of the minor;

     (3)  Upon marriage or civil union pursuant to section 574‑1;

     (4)  Upon legitimation pursuant to section 338-21; or

     (5)  By an order or decree of any court of competent jurisdiction within any state of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or any territory or possession of the United States, changing the name of a person born in this State.

Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, no person who is a covered offender subject to the registration requirements of section 846E-2 may obtain a name change, other than as provided in paragraph (2), (3), (4), or (5), unless a court determines that it is in the best interest of justice to grant the petition and that doing so will not adversely affect the public safety."

     SECTION 2.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

 

 


 


 

Report Title:

Name Change; Children; Sexual Abuse; Divorce

 

Description:

Allows a family court to change the name of a minor child in a divorce proceeding of the parents if the child was the victim of child sexual abuse by either parent or if the court determines that the name change is in the best interests of the child when there has been no conviction of the parent for sexual abuse.

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

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