Hawaii Senate Bill 232 is a 2011 law which legalizes state recognition of civil unions in the state after January 1, 2012. Initiated in the Hawaii Senate and substantively similar to 2010's Hawaii House Bill 444, which was vetoed by then-Governor Linda Lingle. SB232 was backed by her successor, Neil Abercrombie.
| Senate Bill 232 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Hawaii State Legislature | |
| |
| Citation | Act 1, Regular Session, Session Laws of Hawaii 2011 |
| Territorial extent | State of Hawaii |
| Passed by | Hawaii State Legislature |
| Passed | February 16, 2011 |
| Signed by | Governor Neil Abercrombie |
| Signed | February 23, 2011 |
| Commenced | January 1, 2012 |
| Legislative history | |
| Bill title | SB232 |
| Bill citation | Senate Bill No. 232 |
| Introduced by | Brickwood Galuteria |
| Committee report | House Standing Committee Report No. 156 |
| Summary | |
| Extends the same rights, benefits, protections, and responsibilities of spouses in a marriage to partners in a civil union. | |
| Status: In force | |
The bill was passed on January 26, 2011, by the Senate Judiciary and Labor Committee in a 3–2 vote[1] and was passed by the full Senate 19-6 on January 28.[2] A modification to the bill was then made in the House of Representatives before passage on February 11 by a vote of 31–19,;[3][4] the Senate passed the modified bill on February 16 by a vote of 18–5.
Abercrombie's office confirmed after the passage of the bill by the Legislature that he would sign the bill within 10 legislative days of the passage, and the bill was signed into law as Act 1[5] on February 23.[6]
The Hawaii Civil Union Act 2011 is still in force, despite Hawaii providing same-sex marriages since December 2, 2013, under the Hawaii Marriage Equality Act 2013.
Overview
editAs of the passed modification of the bill by the House on February 11, the bill provides for an extension of the privileges provided by the current regime of reciprocal beneficiary relationships in the state. The extension will essentially make civil unions performed and recognized in Hawaii compatible with civil unions and domestic partnerships performed in other states of the United States where such unions are legalized for same-sex couples.
References
edit- ^ Staff (January 24, 2011). "Civil unions bill advances out of Senate committee". Honolulu Star Adviser.
- ^ "Hawaii Senate approves same-sex civil unions". Associated Press via NECN Boston. January 28, 2011. Archived from the original on September 9, 2012.
- ^ "Hawaii House passes same-sex civil unions bill". KHON 2. Associated Press. February 11, 2011. Archived from the original on February 12, 2011.
- ^ BJ Reyes (February 11, 2011). "House approves civil unions bill in 31–19 vote". Honolulu Star-Advertiser.
- ^ Chad Blair (February 23, 2011). "Hawaii Civil Unions Signed Into Law". Honolulu Civil Beat. Archived from the original on July 8, 2011. Retrieved February 24, 2011.
- ^ "B.J. Reyes". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. February 23, 2011.