Text of HI SB 863 (2011)

THE SENATE S.B. NO. 863 TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2011 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE I OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF HAWAII. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII: SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the courts and the legislature have, intermittently since the 1990s, been called upon to address laws regarding who may legally marry in Hawaii. More than a decade has passed, yet this issue remains unresolved. Accordingly, the legislature further finds that the people of Hawaii have the right and responsibility to vote on what legally constitutes a marriage. The purpose of this Act is to propose an amendment to article I of the Hawaii Constitution to reserve marriage to opposite-sex couples. SECTION 2. Article I, section 23, of the Hawaii Constitution is amended to read as follows: "MARRIAGE Section 23. [The legislature shall have the power to reserve marriage to opposite-sex couples.] Marriage shall be reserved to opposite-sex couples." SECTION 3. The question to be printed on the ballot shall be as follows: "Shall the Hawaii Constitution be amended to require that marriage shall be reserved to opposite-sex couples?" SECTION 4. Constitutional material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New constitutional material is underscored. SECTION 5. This amendment shall take effect upon compliance with article XVII, section 3, of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii. INTRODUCED BY: _____________________________ Report Title: Constitutional Amendment; Requirements for Marriage Description: Amends the state constitution to repeal the requirement that the legislature define marriage. Reserves marriage to opposite-sex couples. The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.