THE SENATE

THE TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE

REGULAR SESSION OF 2002

COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, CONSUMER PROTECTION, AND HOUSING

Senator Ron Menor, Chair

Senator Matt Matsunaga, Vice Chair

COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Senator David Matsuura, Chair

Senator Jan Yagi Buen, Vice Chair

NOTICE OF HEARING

 

DATE:

Wednesday, March 13, 2002

TIME:

9:00 a.m.

PLACE:

Conference Room 016

State Capitol

415 South Beretania Street

A G E N D A

HHS/CPH

HB 1950

(HSCR569-02)

RELATING TO PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Human Services (DHS) for the purpose of paying $1 for each prescription written for an individual whose income is at or below 300 per cent of the federal poverty level; provided that DHS obtains a waiver from the federal government to provide prescription drugs at Medicaid rates for qualified individuals.

HHS/CPH, WAM

     

HB 2072

HD2

(HSCR653-02)

RELATING TO SOCIAL WELFARE.

Appropriates $1,000,000 to assist the needy with housing needs. (HB2072 HD2)

HHS/CPH, WAM

     

HB 2216

HD1

(HSCR494-02)

RELATING TO MENTAL HEALTH, ALCOHOL, AND DRUG ABUSE.

Extends the sunset date of chapter 431M to July 1, 2004. (HB2216 HD1)

HHS/CPH, WAM

     

HB 2638

HD2

(HSCR473-02)

RELATING TO THE HAWAII LONG-TERM CARE FINANCING ACT.

Enacts the Hawaii long-term care financing Act; creates a blue ribbon panel to administer the long-term care program; creates a mandatory assessment system to collect premiums from employee paychecks; establishes an initial premium amount of $10 per month and an initial benefit payment of $70 per day for 365 days; creates the Hawaii Long-Term Care Benefits Fund to hold the premiums and to pay benefits. (HB2638 HD2)

HHS/CPH, WAM

     

CPH/HHS

HB 1761

HD1

(HSCR435-02)

RELATING TO INSURANCE.

Gives insurance commissioner power to regulate health insurance rates. (HB1761 HD1)

CPH/HHS, WAM

     

HB 2834

(HSCR433-02)

RELATING TO PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.

Establishes the Hawaii Rx Program to make prescription drugs more affordable to all residents of the State.

CPH/HHS, WAM

CPH ONLY

HB 1713

HD1

(HSCR171-02)

RELATING TO CONDOMINIUM PROPERTY REGIMES.

Requires an association of apartment owners to provide written notification of its intent to assess fees for information requested by an owner, prior to assessment, and allows an owner to withdraw an information request. Contested fees are to be submitted to mediation. (HB1713 HD1)

CPH

     

HB 1715

HD1

(HSCR172-02)

RELATING TO CONDOMINIUM PROPERTY REGIMES.

Extends from 120 to 180 days the deadline for obtaining the required percentage of apartment owner votes to approve condominium bylaw amendments, and specifies that the deadline applies to amendments proposed by both the board of directors and volunteer apartment owners' committees. (HB1715 HD1)

CPH

     

HB 1716

HD1

(HSCR267-02)

RELATING TO CONDOMINIUM PROPERTY REGIMES.

Requires an apartment owner and the board of directors to pay for their own mediation costs and to share joint costs equally, unless otherwise agreed by the parties at the end of the mediation. (HB1716 HD1)

CPH, JDC

     

HB 2445

(HSCR583-02)

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Increases affordable housing opportunities for elderly households by allowing persons who are at least 55 years of age to reside in state-funded elderly public housing projects and privately owned projects that are assisted with state or federal resources by the HCDCH, provided that at least one person in the household is 62 years of age or older.

CPH, WAM

     

HB 2450

HD1

(HSCR658-02)

RELATING TO THE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION OF HAWAII.

Waives the three-year buyback provision until 12/31/04. (HB2450 HD1)

CPH, WAM

     

HB 2466

HD1

(HSCR661-02)

RELATING TO REAL ESTATE.

Reduces regulatory requirements for limited-equity housing cooperatives. Revises the licensure requirements for out-of-state real estate licensees who have previously met equivalent prelicensing requirements by authorizing the Commission to enter into formal license reciprocity or recognition agreements. Streamlines regulatory requirements for condominium managing agents. (HB2466 HD1)

CPH, WAM

     

HB 1777

HD1

(HSCR567-02)

RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES.

Requires a contested case hearing for any increase in "basic service rates," defined as the monthly charge for basic utility service. (HB1777 HD1)

CPH, WAM

     

HB 1778

HD1

(HSCR568-02)

RELATING TO FINANCIAL SERVICES LOAN COMPANIES.

Repeals existing article 9 of chapter 412, relating to financial services loan companies, and replaces it with a new article regulating financial services loan companies. (HB1778 HD1)

CPH, JDC

     

HB 2854

HD1

(HSCR441-02)

RELATING TO ACCOUNTANCY.

Reduces from 150 to 120 semester hours the number of hours needed to take the Uniform Certified Public Acountant Examination. (HB2854 HD1)

CPH

     

HB 2443

HD2

(HSCR694-02)

RELATING TO THE PREVENTION OF THE FILING OF FRIVOLOUS FINANCING STATEMENTS.

Prevents the filing of frivolous financing statements with the bureau of conveyances by assuring that the filing of the financing statements are authorized by the debtors. (HB2443 HD2)

CPH, JDC

     

HB 2307

HD1

(HSCR420-02)

RELATING TO ELECTRONIC TRANSACTIONS.

Permits electronic seals to be used if the law requires a signature or record to be notarized, certified, acknowledged, verified, or made under oath or seal of the person authorized to perform those acts (HB2307 HD1)

CPH, JDC

     

HB 2473

HD1

(HSCR480-02)

RELATING TO THE UNIFORM SECURITIES ACT.

Clarifies the securities laws to provide greater certainty in the capital formation process involving limited offerings. Provides a new securities exemption for foreign securities. Adds back a transactional exemption that allows the Commissioner to exempt any transaction under chapter 91. Conforms the requirements for the registration of investment advisors with other states.(HB2473 HD1)

CPH, JDC

     

HB 2465

HD1

(HSCR660-02)

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS.

Merges the Insurance Regulation Fund into the Compliance Resolution Fund. (HB2465 HD1)

CPH, WAM

     

HB 2468

HD1

(HSCR469-02)

RELATING TO CEMETERY AND FUNERAL TRUSTS.

Allows the director of commerce and consumer affairs to contract with private consultants to assist in the review of cemetery and pre-need funeral authority license applications, regulatory issues, and related documentation (HB2468 HD1).

CPH, WAM

     

DECISION MAKING TO FOLLOW, IF TIME PERMITS.

Persons wishing to testify on HHS/CPH bills should submit 35 copies of their testimony to Room 226. For CPH/HHS and CPH only bills, submit 35 copies of their testimony to the committee clerk, Room 219, State Capitol 24 hours prior to the hearing. Testimony may also 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 whom the testimony is being submitted, the date and time of the hearing, and the required number of copies needed for submittal.

If you require special assistance or auxiliary aids or services to participate in the public hearing process (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.

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 586-6740.

 

________________________________________

Senator David Matsuura

Chair

________________________________________

Senator Ron Menor

Chair