THE SENATE

THE TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE

REGULAR SESSION OF 2007

COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, CONSUMER PROTECTION, AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Senator Brian Taniguchi, Chair

Senator David Y. Ige, Vice Chair

NOTICE OF HEARING

DATE:

Wednesday, March 28, 2007

TIME:

9:00 a.m.

PLACE:

Conference Room 016

State Capitol

415 South Beretania Street

A G E N D A

HB 487

HD1

(HSCR1053)

RELATING TO HOUSING PROGRAMS.

Makes technical amendments to a variety of state laws to implement the recommendations of the Legislative Reference Bureau report to the Legislature pursuant to Section 14 of Act 180, Session Laws of Hawaii 2006 concerning references that should be substituted in place of references to the Housing and Community Development Corporation of Hawaii that was repealed by Act 180. (HB487 HD1)

CPH

HB 1264

(HSCR776)

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Exempts certain lessees from the ten-year buyback and shared appreciation equity restrictions.

CPH

HB 1337

HD1

(HSCR814)

RELATING TO THE DEATH CARE INDUSTRY.

Provides additional protections for consumers of cemetery or funeral services. (HB1337 HD1)

CPH

HB 1339

HD1

(HSCR964)

RELATING TO CONTRACTOR LICENSING REQUIREMENTS DURING A STATE OF EMERGENCY OR DISASTER.

Ensures an adequate supply of licensed contractors available to perform necessary repairs and reconstruction work during a state of emergency or disaster. (HB1339 HD1)

CPH

HB 483

HD1

(HSCR1130)

RELATING TO CHECK CASHING.

Requires the department of commerce and consumer affairs to regulate the check cashing industry through licensing requirements. (HB483 HD1)

CPH

HB 776

(HSCR388)

RELATING TO TICKET SALES.

Makes it an unfair or deceptive act or practice in trade or commerce for a ticket broker to fail to disclose that a fee will be charged when the consumer uses a credit card to buy tickets.

CPH

HB 1612

(HSCR787)

RELATING TO CONSUMER CREDIT REPORTING AGENCIES.

Allows any consumer to place a security freeze on the consumer's credit report.

CPH

HB 1833

HD1

(HSCR1141)

RELATING TO UNFAIR BUSINESS PRACTICES.

Prohibits the practice of mandating the use of certain surety producers or surety insurers by applicants when a bid, payment, or performance bond is required to ensure the performance of any real property construction contract. (HB1833 HD1)

CPH

Decision Making to follow, if time permits.

Persons wishing to testify should submit testimony in one of the following ways at least 24 hours prior to the hearing:

· In person:30 copies of their testimony to the committee clerk, Room 219, State Capitol.

· By fax: Testimony may be faxed if less than 5 pages in length, to the Senate Sergeant-At-Arms Office at 586-6659 or 1-800-586-6659 (toll free for neighbor islands), at least 24 hours prior to the hearing. When faxing, please indicate to which committee the testimony is being submitted, the date and time of the hearing, and the number of copies needed for submittal.

· By Email: Testimony may be emailed if less than 5 pages in length, to the Legislature's Public Access Room at testimony@capitol.hawaii.gov. Please indicate to which committee the testimony is being submitted, the date and time of the hearing, and the number of copies needed for submittal. In addition, please provide the testifier's name and mailing address in the email. Email sent to individual offices or any other Senate office will not be accepted.

If you require special assistance or auxiliary aids or services to participate in the public hearing process (i.e., sign language interpreter or wheelchair accessibility), please contact the committee clerk 24 hours prior to the hearing so arrangements can be made.

Public Folder. A folder labeled “Public Folder” containing the measures and testimonies for the hearing will be available for shared use by members of the public.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL THE COMMITTEE CLERK AT 586-6460.

________________________________________

Senator Brian T. Taniguchi

Chair