HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
                 THE TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE
                  REGULAR SESSION OF 2000

       COMMITTEE ON CONSUMER PROTECTION AND COMMERCE
                   Rep. Ron Menor, Chair
              Rep. Marilyn B. Lee, Vice Chair

  Rep. Romy Cachola             Rep. Roy M. Takumi
  Rep. Jerry L. Chang           Rep. Terry Nui Yoshinaga
  Rep. Nestor R. Garcia         Rep. Chris Halford
  Rep. Robert N. Herkes         Rep. Jim Rath
  Rep. Kenneth T. Hiraki        Rep. Cynthia Thielen
  Rep. Hermina M. Morita        Rep. Paul Whalen
  Rep. Sol P. Kaho`ohalahala

                     NOTICE OF HEARING

        DATE:    Wednesday, March 22, 2000

        TIME:    2:00 P.M.

        PLACE:   Conference Room 325, State Capitol

                        A G E N D A

SB 2287    RELATING TO THE PUBLIC UTILITIES
SD1, HD1   COMMISSION                               EEP, CPC, FIN
HSCR 906   Establishes an underground conversion fund to fund the
        conversion  of   utility   lines   from   overhead  to
        underground placement.  Allocates excess moneys in the
        PUC special fund  to  the underground conversion fund.
        Permits taxpayers to  contribute  to  the fund through
        their tax returns.

SB 873     RELATING TO REAL PROPERTY APPRAISALS          CPC, FIN
SD 1       Makes optional the use of USPAP in determining fair
SSCR 796   market value in  lease  renegotiations.  Provides that
        fair market value that  is  determined to be less than
        current  lease  rent  amount  prevails  over  contract
        provision barring reduction of  lease rent.  Makes Act
        effective January 1, 2004.

SB 2655    RELATING TO HEALTH                       HLT, CPC, FIN
SD2, HD1   Establishes an expedited process for an appeal of a
HSCR 884   managed care plan's decision.  Extends the time period
        to request an external review of a managed care plan's
        final  determination.      Establishes  standards  for
        determining whether a health intervention is a medical
        necessity.     Increases   the   Patient   Rights  and
        Responsibilities Task Force  membership from twenty to
        twenty-five.

SB 2742    RELATING TO PORK                         AGR, CPC, FIN
HSCR 886   Repeals   unenforceable   statutory   provision  which
        requires retailers to label pork produced in the State
        "Island Produced Pork".

 
SB 2945    RELATING TO TAXATION                     EDB, CPC, FIN
SD1, HD1   Clarifies and makes consistent the general excise tax
HSCR 893   and use tax laws.   Excludes imported banking services
        from the use tax.    Extends  GET pyramiding relief to
        the  sale  of  amusements.    Establishes  a graduated
        decreasing tax rate schedule  for carriers and freight
        forwarders.

HCR 59     REQUESTING  THE  HAWAII   HURRICANE   RELIEF  FUND  TO
        ESTABLISH A LOW  COST  LOAN  FUND  AND  TO ESTABLISH A
        GRANT PROGRAM TO HELP HOMEOWNERS              CPC, FIN

HCR 65     REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO STUDY THE NEED FOR
HR 58      REGULATING THE ALARM INDUSTRY            CPC, LMG, FIN

HCR 145    REQUESTING THE INSURANCE COMMISSIONER TO DETERMINE HOW
HR 127     THE COST SAVINGS ATTRIBUTABLE  TO MOTOR VEHICLE REFORM
        UNDER  ACT  251,  SESSION  LAWS  OF  HAWAII  1997, HAS
        IMPACTED   CONSUMER    ACCESSIBILITY    TO   MEDICALLY
        REASONABLE,  NECESSARY,  AND  APPROPRIATE  REFERRAL TO
        MASSAGE THERAPY AND PHYSICAL THERAPY               CPC

HCR 183    REQUESTING AN EXAMINATION OF POSSIBLE STATE ACTIONS TO
HR 161     CONTROL   EXCESS    PROFITEERING   BY   PHARMACEUTICAL
        COMPANIES                                     CPC, FIN

                 DECISION MAKING TO FOLLOW


THE FOLLOWING BILLS HEARD  ON  WEDNESDAY,  MARCH 15, 2000 ARE FOR
DECISION MAKING ONLY:

SB 2729    RELATING TO SERVICE CONTRACTS                 CPC, FIN
SD 1       Regulates service contacts and contractual liability
SSCR 2744  insurance policies.

SB 3193    RELATING TO THE HAWAII INSURANCE EXCHANGE CPC, LAB/FIN
SD 1       Creates Hawaii insurance exchange captive insurance
SSCR 2687  company to replace  the  public  employees health fund
        structure.

SB 2657    RELATING TO HEALTH                            CPC, FIN
SD 2       Mandates coverage under most health insurance policies
SSCR 2657  and contracts for  diabetes outpatient self-management
        training, education, equipment, and supplies.

SB 3043    RELATING TO THE STATE RISK MANAGEMENT AND
SD 2       INSURANCE ADMINISTRATION                      CPC, FIN
SSCR 2619  Authorizes  the  state   comptroller  to  establish  a
        captive  insurance  company   to  insure  the  general
        liabilities of the State.

 
 
PERSONS WISHING TO TESTIFY ARE  REQUESTED  TO SUBMIT 45 COPIES OF
THEIR TESTIMONY 24 HOURS  PRIOR  TO  THE  HEARING  TO:   (1)  THE
COMMITTEE CHAIR IN ROOM  320,  STATE  CAPITOL;  OR (2)  THE HOUSE
SGT.-AT-ARMS PERSONNEL  IN  THE  TURNAROUND  AREA  OF THE CAPITOL
BASEMENT PARKING LOT.  TESTIMONY MAY  BE FAXED TO THE HOUSE SGT.-
AT-ARMS OFFICE AT:   586-6501  (OAHU) OR 1-800-535-3859 (NEIGHBOR
ISLANDS).  WHEN FAXING, PLEASE  INDICATE TO WHOM THE TESTIMONY IS
BEING SUBMITTED,  THE  DATE  AND  TIME  OF  THE  HEARING, AND THE
REQUIRED NO. OF COPIES THAT IS NEEDED FOR SUBMITTAL.

IT IS ALSO REQUESTED THAT THE COPIES  BE ON ONE SIDE OF AN 8-1/2"
X 11" SHEET.  FOR  FURTHER  INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL THE CONSUMER
PROTECTION AND COMMERCE COMMITTEE AT 586-6150.

IF YOU  REQUIRE  SPECIAL  ASSISTANCE  OR  AUXILIARY  AIDS AND/OR
SERVICES TO PARTICIPATE  IN  THE  PUBLIC  HEARING  PROCESS OF THE
STATE  HOUSE   (I.E.,   SIGN   LANGUAGE  INTERPRETER,  WHEELCHAIR
ACCESSIBILITY, OR PARKING  DESIGNATED  FOR  THE DISABLED), PLEASE
CONTACT THE COMMITTEE  CLERK  24  HOURS  PRIOR  TO THE HEARING SO
ARRANGEMENTS CAN BE MADE.


                               _____________________________
                               Rep. Ron Menor
                               Chair