Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 1347 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to authorize a foreclosure sale by the tax collector on real property for which a lien has existed for eighteen months or on which fines exceeding $25,000 are owed due to egregious zoning or building code violations involving the real property.

The Department of Planning and Permitting of the City and County of Honolulu testified in support of this measure.

Presently, the law authorizes the tax collector to foreclose upon and sell at public auction to the highest bidder real property upon which any lien has existed for three years. This measure shortens that time period to eighteen months and additionally authorizes a foreclosure sale for real property on which is owed more than $25,000 in fines for egregious zoning or building code violations. Your Committee finds that this measure further clarifies the counties' authority to foreclose upon real properties encumbranced by liens.

Your Committee has amended this measure for the purpose of clarity.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1347, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1347, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.