STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1957

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   H.C.R. No. 287

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.C.R. No. 287 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS TO REPORT ON ITS EXPERIENCE WITH AND TO EVALUATE THE CURRENT SYSTEM FOR CONDOMINIUM DISPUTE RESOLUTION,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to request the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to report on its experience with and to evaluate the current system for condominium dispute resolution.  Specifically, this measure:

     (1) Requests the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to report to the Legislature on its direct, first hand experience with the condominium dispute resolution    program, and to provide a review and evaluation of the efficacy of that program;

     (2) Additionally requests the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to consider other possible methods of   dispute resolution that may result in expeditious and     equitable dispute resolutions without exposing the parties to any dispute to excessive and unreasonable legal      and other fees and costs; and

     (3) Further requests the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to report its findings and recommendations, along    with any proposed legislation, to the Legislature not later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular     Session of 2008.

     The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs testified in opposition of this measure.   

     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 concur with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 287 and recommend its adoption.

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

____________________________ TOMMY WATERS, Chair

____________________________ ROBERT N. HERKES, Chair