STAND. COM. REP. NO.  264

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   H.B. No. 1790

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 1790 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE PETROLEUM INDUSTRY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to amend Act 78, Session Laws of Hawaii 2006, to make an appropriation of $500,000 out of the general fund and into the petroleum industry monitoring, analysis, and reporting special fund to allow the Public Utilities Commission to:

     (1)  Establish and administer the petroleum industry monitoring, analysis, and reporting program; and

     (2)  Establish two full-time staff positions to implement and maintain the program.

     Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Public Utilities Commission.

     Following a hearing on this measure and House Bill No. 1293, your Committee has amended this measure by deleting its contents and inserting in its place the contents of House Bill No. 1293.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of House Bill No. 1293 from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism and the Public Utilities Commission.  The Office of Information Practices and Western States Petroleum Association submitted comments.

     Your Committee has further amended the contents of House Bill No. 1293 that were inserted into this measure by:

     (1)  Clarifying that the information the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism may use to effectuate the purposes of chapters 196 and 125C, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and other laws in a new section to be added to chapter 486J, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is the information provided by the petroleum industry monitoring, analysis, and reporting program;

     (2)  Making changes to conform the language in this measure to the printed version of the Hawaii Revised Statutes; and

     (3)  Making technical nonsubstantive changes for purposes of clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1790, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1790, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,

____________________________

HERMINA MORITA, Chair