Saturday, May 18, 2013
Final civil unions vote postponed until tomorrow
POSTED: 11:14 a.m. HST, Feb 15, 2011
LAST UPDATED: 12:52 p.m. HST, Feb 15, 2011
A final vote on a proposal to legalize civil unions in Hawaii has been postponed by a day, until tomorrow.
The Senate communications office said the postponement is “to give senators more time to consider the bill.”
Senate Judiciary Chairman Sen. Clayton Hee (D, Kahuku-Kaneohe) said the delay was being made out of “an abundance of caution” to ensure the bill had met all legal notice requirements.
A vote was expected today after the Senate yesterday approved changes made to the bill by the House.
Senate Bill 232 would grant all couples, same-sex or heterosexual, the ability to enter into a civil union, a legal status with all the rights, benefits and protections of traditional marriage.
Gov. Neil Abercrombie has said he would sign the bill.
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