HI SB3123

Increases marriage license fees to support the Hawaii Birth Defects Program, which has seen salary and fringe expenses nearly double since 2002 and faces funding shortfalls beginning fiscal year 2022-2023.

Establishes a vital statistics improvement special fund to modernize and automate the vital statistics system, which is over twenty years old and needs replacement to handle increased demand for marriage certificates required for REAL ID Act compliance.

Increases compensation for non-civil service marriage license agents from $9 per license (unchanged since 1998) to a higher amount to be specified, addressing insufficient operating costs.

Directs marriage license fee revenues to be distributed among the general fund, spouse and child abuse special fund, spouse and child abuse special account, birth defects special fund, and the new vital statistics improvement special fund.

Takes effect January 1, 2050.