STAND. COM. REP. NO.  787

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   H.B. No. 1612

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Consumer Protection & Commerce and Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 1612 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CONSUMER CREDIT REPORTING AGENCIES,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to provide protection against identity theft by allowing any consumer to place a security freeze on the consumer's credit report, so that the consumer does not have to wait until they can establish that their identity has been stolen before requesting the freeze.

     The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Kuliouou/Kalani Iki Neighborhood Board #2, AARP Hawaii, and a concerned individual testified in support of this bill.  A concerned individual supported this measure with amendments.  The Consumers Union, Consumer Data Industry Association, and Retail Merchants of Hawaii offered comments.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Consumer Protection & Commerce and Judiciary that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1612 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Consumer Protection & Commerce and Judiciary,

____________________________ TOMMY WATERS, Chair

____________________________ ROBERT N. HERKES, Chair