Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 158 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to reduce the incidence of bulk e-mail or "spam," by requesting the Legislative Reference Bureau to study the issues associated with making the transmission of spam a misdemeanor.

The Legislative Reference Bureau offered comments on this measure.

Your Committee finds that spam costs businesses millions of dollars each year, and inconveniences private users of electronic mail. The study proposed by this measure will give the Legislature perspective on whether providing a criminal penalty for transmitting spam will be helpful in reducing the spam problem.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 158 and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance.