Bill Text: HI SB1144 | 2021 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Relating To Marriage License Fees.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2021-04-01 - The committee(s) on FIN recommend(s) that the measure be deferred. [SB1144 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2021-SB1144-Amended.html
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
1144 |
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THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2021 |
S.D. 2 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
H.D. 1 |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO MARRIAGE LICENSE FEES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that existing law mandates the department of health to establish the statewide birth defects program to collect surveillance information on birth defects; report the incidence, trends, and causes of birth defects; and report information for the development of prevention strategies to reduce the incidence of birth defects.
Approximately 4.5 per cent of Hawaii
births have a major structural or genetic birth defect. Birth
defects may result in serious illness, developmental delays, long-term
disability, or death and may cause an increased need for health, education, or
social services.
The Hawaii birth defects program has been supported by a fee of $10 per marriage license since 2002. However, the program's salary and fringe expenses have almost doubled between 2002 and 2019. Without additional funding, the program will not have sufficient funding for operating expenses beginning fiscal year 2020-2021. Increasing the revenue for the birth defects special fund will ensure that the program fulfills its mandated responsibilities.
Furthermore, the current compensation for non-civil service marriage license agents, who are appointed by the department of health, is $9 per license. This amount has not changed since 1998 and is not sufficient to meet the current operating costs of marriage license agents.
The purpose of this Act is to increase the marriage license fee to support the Hawaii birth defects program and more fairly compensate marriage license agents.
SECTION 2. Section 572-5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsections (a) and (b) to read as follows:
"(a) The department of health shall appoint, and
at its pleasure remove, one or more suitable persons as agents authorized to
grant marriage licenses under this chapter in each judicial circuit. The agents may issue licenses from any state
facility when deemed necessary by the director.
Any agent appointed under this subsection and receiving an application
for a marriage license shall collect from the applicant for the license [$60,]
$ , of which
the agent, except those provided for in subsection (b), shall retain [$9]
$ for the
agent's benefit and compensation and shall remit [$51] $
to the director of health. Upon the
receipt of remittances under this subsection, the director of health shall
deposit:
(1) [$32] $
for each license issued to the credit of the general fund of the State;
(2) [$4.50] $
for each license issued to the credit of the spouse and child abuse special
fund established under section 346-7.5;
(3) [$4.50] $
for each license issued to the credit of the spouse and child abuse special
account established under section 601-3.6; and
(4) [$10] $
for each license issued to the credit of the birth defects special fund
established under section 321-426.
(b) The department may appoint, as regular employees under the civil service and classification laws, the number of suitable persons as agents authorized to grant marriage licenses for whom provision has been made in the general appropriation act. In the case of these agents, the full amount collected from applicants shall be remitted to the director of health. Upon the receipt of remittances under this subsection, the director of health shall deposit:
(1) [$41] $
for each license issued to the credit of the general fund of the State;
(2) [$4.50] $
for each license issued to the credit of the spouse and child abuse special
fund established under section 346-7.5;
(3) [$4.50] $
for each license issued to the credit of the spouse and child abuse special
account established under section 601-3.6; and
(4) [$10] $
for each license issued to the credit of the birth defects special fund established
under section 321‑426.
SECTION 3. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2060.
Report Title:
Marriage License Fee; Birth Defects Program; Birth Defects Special Fund; Spouse and Child Abuse Special Fund; Spouse and Child Abuse Special Account
Description:
Increases the marriage license application fee to support the Hawaii birth defects program and operating costs of marriage license agents. Amends remittances of the increased fee to various special funds and accounts in unspecified amounts. Effective 7/1/2060. (HD1)
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
