Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Tourism and Culture, to which was referred S.B. No. 176 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to repeal the requirement that a time sharing plan agent wear an identification badge while off-premises and engaging in acquisition or sales agent activity.

Testimony in favor of this measure was received from All Islands Timeshare Resales, American Resort Development Association of Hawaii, Hilton Grand Vacations Club-Hawaii, Pahio Resorts, Inc., and The Bay Club Ownership Resort, Inc. The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs testified in opposition to this measure.

Your Committee finds that the requirement to wear a badge stigmatizes the wearer and the industry in which the wearer is employed. It has been four years since the badge requirement for timeshare employees was enacted. Since that time, regulation, enforcement of laws, and industry competition has eliminated the questionable activities of the past.

Your Committee further finds that no other industry in Hawaii requires its members to wear badges of this sort and that many time share industry members already require a company badge that reflects the name of the resort and the name of the outside public contact personnel.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Tourism and Culture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 176 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce.