Bill Text: HI SB195 | 2012 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: University of Hawaii; Couples on the Brink Project; Appropriation
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-12-01 - Carried over to 2012 Regular Session. [SB195 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2012-SB195-Introduced.html
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
195 |
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TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2011 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO THE COUPLES ON THE BRINK PROJECT.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The University of Minnesota recently began to offer divorce reconciliation services to couples considering dissolving their marriages. The program is offered pursuant to statutory enactment, entitled "Minnesota couples on the brink project". The new project allows couples an "offramp" if they find themselves on the road to divorce, by offering short-term coaching on a voluntary basis to help the husband and wife decide whether they really want to split. If a couple decides to rebuild the marriage, the project will help craft a reconciliation plan. The intent of the project is to facilitate reconciliation rather than divorce.
The legislature finds that a similar program should be established in Hawaii to offer reconciliation opportunities for couples considering divorce.
The purpose of this Act is to:
(1) Establish a couples on the brink project under the University of Hawaii; and
(2) Fund the project by creating a special fund and increasing the marriage license fee.
SECTION 2. Chapter 304A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding two new sections to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§304A-A Hawaii couples on the brink project. (a) There is established the Hawaii couples on the brink project under the University of Hawaii for administrative purposes. Within the availability of funding, the board of regents shall develop and implement a Hawaii couples on the brink project as provided in subsection (b). The project shall be funded from deposits into the Hawaii couples on the brink project special fund, established under section 304A-B.
(b) The Hawaii couples on the brink project shall:
(1) Develop, evaluate, and disseminate best practices for promoting successful reconciliation between married persons who are considering divorce or who have commenced divorce proceedings and who choose to pursue reconciliation; and
(2) Provide counseling services consistent with paragraph (1); provided that counseling services may be offered through a contract with qualified persons or entities.
(c) The University of Hawaii shall report annually to the legislature on the progress of the Hawaii couples on the brink project, including the number of couples served and the number of reconciled couples.
§304A-B Hawaii couples on the brink project special fund. There is established a Hawaii couples on the brink project special fund, to be administered by the University of Hawaii. The purpose of the fund shall be to facilitate the Hawaii couples on the brink project under section 304A-A.
Moneys collected from a portion of the marriage license fee under section 572-5 shall be deposited into the Hawaii couples on the brink project special fund. All expenditures from the fund shall be subject to legislative appropriation."
SECTION 3. 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,] $65, 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] $56 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 account 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[.];
and
(5) $5 for each license issued to the
credit of the Hawaii couples on the brink project special fund
established under section 304A-B.
(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 account 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[.];
and
(5) $5 for each license issued to the credit of the Hawaii couples on the brink project special fund established under section 304A-B."
SECTION 4. In codifying this Act the revisor shall substitute appropriate section numbers for the letter designations used in place of section numbers.
SECTION 5. There is appropriated out of the Hawaii couples on the brink project special fund established under section 304A-B, Hawaii Revised Statutes, the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2011-2012
and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2012-2013 for purposes of the Hawaii couples on the brink project under section 304A-A.
The sums appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 6. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 7. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2011.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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Report Title:
University of Hawaii; Couples on the Brink Project; Appropriation
Description:
Establishes the Hawaii couples on the brink project under the University of Hawaii to promote marriage reconciliation. Raises marriage license fee. Establishes special fund. Makes appropriation.
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
