Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 473, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the Public Utilities Commission to maintain a web site that includes:

1. All decisions and orders issued by the Commission;
2. A list of all open dockets;
3. A list of all upcoming Commission meetings; and
4. A list of all pending deadlines.

In addition, this measure requires all application forms filed with the Commission to be submitted by the applicant on compact disc in PDF or other electronic format prescribed by the Commission, but specifies that information not required to be disclosed pursuant to the Uniform Information Practices Act is exempt from this requirement.

This measure further provides that the time period within which the Commission is required to take action commences upon the posting of a substantially completed filing on the web site. The measure also allows the Commission to employ such persons as may be necessary to maintain the web site, and appropriates unspecified funds from the Public Utilities Commission Special Fund for the purposes of this measure.

Your Committee agrees with the intent of this measure and finds that the Commission's web site will offer an efficient and cost effective means of informing and communicating with the public concerning various Commission proceedings and activities, and help the Commission carry out its statutory duties.

Upon further consideration, your Committee has amended this measure by:

1. Specifying that the Public Utilities Commission is to give priority to the posting of decisions and orders on its web site that are issued after the effective date of this measure;
2. Deleting the provision that the time period within which the Commission is to take action commences upon the posting of a substantially completed filing on its web site. Your Committee is concerned that a delay in the posting of a filing onto the web site may inadvertently result in an extension to the time period within which a decision is required for that filing, thus effectively adding another step to the regulatory process and lengthening the time period for the resolution of proceedings before the Commission. Your Committee finds that it is in the public interest for Commission proceedings to be resolved as expeditiously as possible, since delays in the process will ultimately result in delays in the delivery of services, new technologies, and other benefits to consumers;
3. Adding a provision allowing for the filing of applications with the Commission by electronic mail (e-mail); and
4. Making technical nonsubstantive changes that are necessitated by the foregoing amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 473, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 473, H.D. 2, S.D. 2.