HB2591 HD1

SECTION 1. Section 481B-13, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§481B-13 Gift certificates. (a) Any restaurant or person engaged in the business of offering services or goods for sale at retail may allow customers to purchase gift certificates; provided that the certificate issuer shall honor the certificate for a period of at least two years from the date of issuance. A certificate issuer shall not charge a service fee, including but not limited to a service fee for dormancy or inactivity.

(b) The date of issuance and the expiration date shall be clearly identified on the face of the gift certificate, or, if an electronic card with a banked dollar value, clearly printed upon a sales receipt transferred to the purchaser of the electronic card upon the completed transaction. The expiration date shall be not less than two years after the date of issuance. If the gift certificate does not have an expiration date, it shall be valid in perpetuity.

(1) Gift certificates that are issued as part of an awards, loyalty, incentive, rebate, or promotional program, or to a not-for‑profit charity organization, where no money or anything of value is given to the issuer by the consumer in exchange for the gift certificate[~~, are exempt from this section~~]; provided that the expiration date, if any, appears on the gift certificate or accompanying printed receipt[.];

(2) A debit card or other legal device used to access a deposit account and that is subject to the Electronic Fund Transfer Act (15 U.S.C. Section 1693 et seq.);

(3) A payroll card issued by an employer to an employee;

(4) A prepaid calling card used to make wireline and wireless calls;

(5) An insurance claim card used to pay an insurance claim;

(6) A government benefit card, including a gift certificate used to pay government benefits to a person;

(7) A transportation card;

(8) An electronic travel card; or

(9) A meal card used to purchase any food or beverage at a restaurant or cafeteria, including restaurants or cafeterias located at a school as defined in section 302A-901, or a college or university.

(d) Any violation of this section shall constitute an unfair and deceptive act or practice in the conduct of trade or commerce within the meaning of section 480-2.

(e) As used in this section, unless the context requires otherwise:

"Certificate issuer" or "issuer" means a restaurant or a person engaged in the business of offering services or goods for sale at retail who sells gift certificates to customers.

"Gift certificate" or "certificate" includes any electronic card with a banked dollar value where the issuer has received payment for the full banked dollar value for the future purchase or delivery of goods or services, any certificate where the issuer has received payment for the full face value of the certificate for future purchases or delivery of goods or services, and any other medium that evidences the giving of consideration in exchange for the right to redeem the certificate, electronic card, or other medium for goods, food, or services of at least an equal value."

SECTION 2. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2591
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII