STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1556-00

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 2000

                                 RE: S.C.R. No. 171
                                     S.D. 1




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce, to which
was referred S.C.R. No. 171, S.D. 1, entitled: 

     "SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF
     TRANSPORTATION TO CONDUCT A STUDY ON THE FEASIBILITY OF
     IMPLEMENTING A ONE-CALL SYSTEM TO LOCATE UNDERGROUND
     FACILITIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to request the
Department of Transportation (DOT) to:

     (1)  Convene a working group to investigate and resolve
          concerns regarding the establishment of a one-call
          underground facilities location system raised at the
          public hearing of S.B. No. 2285, a bill that would have
          established a one-call system; and

     (2)  Report to the 2001 Legislature any findings and
          recommendations, including proposed legislation.

     Testimony supporting the concurrent resolution was submitted
by Kauai Electric, the Gas Company, and GTE Hawaiian Tel.  DOT,
Public Utilities Commission, Hawaiian Electric Company, and its
subsidiaries, Hawaii Electric Light Company and Maui Electric
Company provided testimony supporting the intent of the
concurrent resolution.  AT&T supported the one-call system and
stated that it would work with DOT as DOT studies the feasibility
of establishing the system in Hawaii.

 
 
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     Your Committee finds that the establishment of a one-call
system would benefit both consumers and businesses.  The system
would provide those undertaking excavation activities with
information about the location of existing underground
facilities.  The information sharing and coordination provided by
the system would reduce costs resulting from injuries to persons
and the environment, damage to existing underground facilities,
and the disruption of vital utility and telecommunications
services to the public.

     Your Committee requests that in conducting its study, DOT
consider the Internet and geographic information system
technology as possible means of centralizing and facilitating the
exchange of information for purposes of the one-call system.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce that is attached to
this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose
of S.C.R. No. 171, S.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to
the Committee on Finance.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Consumer
                                   Protection and Commerce,



                                   ______________________________
                                   RON MENOR, Chair