STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1283

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   S.B. No. 921

      S.D. 1

      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 Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred S.B. No. 921, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION RECORDS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to improve consumer access to information by requiring reasonable fees to be charged for copies of condominium association records.  Specifically, this bill limits the charges for copying association records to $1 per page, including administrative and duplicating costs.

     The Hawaii Independent Condominium and Cooperative Owners testified in support of this bill.  The Hawaii Legislative Action Committee of the Community Associations Institute supported the intent of this measure.

     Your Committee finds that while condominium owners currently have the right to obtain copies of condominium association records, some associations charge exorbitant fees that may discourage owners from requesting records.  This bill seeks to ensure affordable access to these records.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Providing that the $1-per-page limit for copying condominium association records does not apply to pages exceeding eight and one-half inches by fourteen inches; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency and style.

     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 is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 921, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 921, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,

____________________________

ROBERT N. HERKES, Chair