STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1379

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 127

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Affordable Housing, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 127 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING A SUNRISE REVIEW OF THE REGULATION OF BAIL BONDING AGENTS AND THE BAIL BOND INDUSTRY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to request the Auditor to conduct a sunrise review of the regulation of bail bonding agents and the bail bond industry.

     Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs.

     Your Committee finds that the bail bond industry and bail bonding agents provide an extraordinarily valuable service to both law enforcement and accused persons. 

     Your Committee further recognizes that to protect against abuses in the bail bond industry, several states have enacted laws regulating the conduct of persons who apprehend bail fugitives.  However, Hawaii currently has no laws regulating the conduct of persons who apprehend bail fugitives in the State. 

     During the Regular Session of 2007, S.B. No. 1961 was introduced and proposed the regulation of bail bonding agents and the bail bond industry. 

In compliance with section 26H-6, Hawaii Revised Statutes, this measure requests the Auditor to conduct a sunrise review of the proposed regulations in S.B. No. 1961.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Affordable Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 127 and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Affordable Housing,

____________________________

BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair