Report Title:
Cable Television
Description:
Allows the DCCA to provide additional funding to support public, educational, and governmental cable television access. (SD1)
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
1848 |
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TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007 |
S.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to cable television.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. Section 26-9, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (o) to read as follows:
"(o) Every person licensed under any chapter
within the jurisdiction of the department of commerce and consumer affairs and
every person licensed subject to chapter 485A or registered under chapter 467B
shall pay upon issuance of a license, permit, certificate, or registration a
fee and a subsequent annual fee to be determined by the director and adjusted
from time to time to ensure that the proceeds, together with all other fines,
income, and penalties collected under this section, do not surpass the annual
operating costs of conducting compliance resolution activities required under
this section. The fees may be collected biennially or pursuant to rules
adopted under chapter 91, and shall be deposited into the special fund
established under this subsection. Every filing pursuant to chapter 514E or
section [[]485A‑202(a)(26)[]] shall be assessed, upon
initial filing and at each renewal period in which a renewal is required, a fee
that shall be prescribed by rules adopted under chapter 91, and that shall be
deposited into the special fund established under this subsection. Any unpaid
fee shall be paid by the licensed person, upon application for renewal,
restoration, reactivation, or reinstatement of a license, and by the person
responsible for the renewal, restoration, reactivation, or reinstatement of a
license, upon the application for renewal, restoration, reactivation, or
reinstatement of the license. If the fees are not paid, the director may deny
renewal, restoration, reactivation, or reinstatement of the license. The director
may establish, increase, decrease, or repeal the fees when necessary pursuant
to rules adopted under chapter 91. The director may also increase or decrease
the fees pursuant to section 92-28.
There is created in the state treasury a special fund to be known as the compliance resolution fund to be expended by the director's designated representatives as provided by this subsection. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, all revenues, fees, and fines collected by the department shall be deposited into the compliance resolution fund. Unencumbered balances existing on June 30, 1999, in the cable television fund under chapter 440G, the division of consumer advocacy fund under chapter 269, the financial institution examiners' revolving fund, section 412:2-109, the special handling fund, section 414‑13, and unencumbered balances existing on June 30, 2002, in the insurance regulation fund, section 431:2-215, shall be deposited into the compliance resolution fund. This provision shall not apply to the drivers education fund underwriters fee, section 431:10C‑115, insurance premium taxes and revenues, revenues of the workers' compensation special compensation fund, section 386-151, the captive insurance administrative fund, section 431:19‑101.8, the insurance commissioner's education and training fund, section 431:2-214, the medical malpractice patients' compensation fund as administered under section 5 of Act 232, Session Laws of Hawaii 1984, and fees collected for deposit in the office of consumer protection restitution fund, section 487‑14, the real estate appraisers fund, section 466K‑1, the real estate recovery fund, section 467‑16, the real estate education fund, section 467‑19, the contractors recovery fund, section 444‑26, the contractors education fund, section 444‑29, and the condominium education trust fund, section 514B-71. Any law to the contrary notwithstanding, the director may use the moneys in the fund to employ, without regard to chapter 76, hearings officers and attorneys. All other employees may be employed in accordance with chapter 76. Any law to the contrary notwithstanding, the moneys in the fund shall be used to fund the operations of the department. Any law to the contrary notwithstanding, the director may use moneys in the fund deposited under chapter 440G to support public, educational, and governmental access facilities, equipment, and operations in underserved areas pursuant to the standards and conditions adopted in accordance with section 440G-15; provided that the use of moneys shall be allowable only if there are available funds over and above any funds needed for the operation of the department's cable television administration. The moneys in the fund may be used to train personnel as the director deems necessary and for any other activity related to compliance resolution.
As used in this subsection, unless otherwise required by the context, "compliance resolution" means a determination of whether:
(1) Any licensee or applicant under any chapter subject to the jurisdiction of the department of commerce and consumer affairs has complied with that chapter;
(2) Any person subject to chapter 485A has complied with that chapter;
(3) Any person submitting any filing required by
chapter 514E or section [[]485A-202(a)(26)[]] has complied with
chapter 514E or section [[]485A-202(a)(26)[]];
(4) Any person has complied with the prohibitions against unfair and deceptive acts or practices in trade or commerce; or
(5) Any person subject to chapter 467B has complied with that chapter;
and includes work involved in or supporting the above functions, licensing, or registration of individuals or companies regulated by the department, consumer protection, and other activities of the department.
The director shall prepare and submit an annual report to the governor and the legislature on the use of the compliance resolution fund. The report shall describe expenditures made from the fund including non-payroll operating expenses."
SECTION 2. Section 440G-15, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"§440G-15 Annual fees. (a) Each cable operator shall pay an annual fee to be determined by the director. The fees so collected under this section shall be deposited into the compliance resolution fund established under section 26-9(o).
(b) The director shall adjust the fees assessed under this section, as necessary from time to time, pursuant to rules adopted in accordance with chapter 91.
(c) The fees collected under this section and deposited to the compliance resolution fund may be used to support public, educational, or governmental access facilities, equipment, and operations for underserved areas pursuant to the standards and conditions established by a decision and order issued by the director; provided that notwithstanding any law to the contrary:
(1) The decision and order shall not be subject to any of the requirements of chapter 91; and
(2) Use of the funds to support public, educational, or governmental access facilities, equipment, and operations in underserved areas shall not be subject to any of the requirements of chapter 42F."
SECTION 3. Act 164, Session Laws of Hawaii 2004, is amended by amending section 5 to read as follows:
"SECTION 5. Section 26-9, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (o) to read as follows:
"(o) Every person licensed under any chapter within the jurisdiction of the department of commerce and consumer affairs and every person licensed subject to chapter 485 or registered under chapter 467B shall pay upon issuance of a license, permit, certificate, or registration a fee and a subsequent annual fee to be determined by the director and adjusted from time to time to ensure that the proceeds, together with all other fines, income, and penalties collected under this section, do not surpass the annual operating costs of conducting compliance resolution activities required under this section. The fees may be collected biennially or pursuant to rules adopted under chapter 91, and shall be deposited into the special fund established under this subsection. Every filing pursuant to chapter 514E or section 485-6(15) shall be assessed, upon initial filing and at each renewal period in which a renewal is required, a fee that shall be prescribed by rules adopted under chapter 91, and that shall be deposited into the special fund established under this subsection. Any unpaid fee shall be paid by the licensed person, upon application for renewal, restoration, reactivation, or reinstatement of a license, and by the person responsible for the renewal, restoration, reactivation, or reinstatement of a license, upon the application for renewal, restoration, reactivation, or reinstatement of the license. If the fees are not paid, the director may deny renewal, restoration, reactivation, or reinstatement of the license. The director may establish, increase, decrease, or repeal the fees when necessary pursuant to rules adopted under chapter 91. The director may also increase or decrease the fees pursuant to section 92-28.
There is created in the state treasury a special fund
to be known as the compliance resolution fund to be expended by the director's
designated representatives as provided by this subsection. Notwithstanding any
law to the contrary, all revenues, fees, and fines collected by the department
shall be deposited into the compliance resolution fund. Unencumbered balances
existing on June 30, 1999, in the cable television fund under chapter 440G, the
division of consumer advocacy fund under chapter 269, the financial institution
examiners' revolving fund, section 412:2-109, the special handling fund,
section 414-13, and unencumbered balances existing on June 30, 2002, in the
insurance regulation fund, section 431:2-215, shall be deposited into the
compliance resolution fund. This provision shall not apply to the drivers
education fund underwriters fee, section 431:10C-115, insurance premium taxes
and revenues, revenues of the workers' compensation special compensation fund,
section 386-151, the captive insurance administrative fund, section
431:19-101.8, the insurance commissioner's education and training fund, section
431:2-214, the medical malpractice patients' compensation fund as administered
under section 5 of Act 232, Session Laws of Hawaii 1984, and fees collected for
deposit in the office of consumer protection restitution fund, section 487-14,
the real estate appraisers fund, section 466K‑1, the real estate recovery
fund, section 467-16, the real estate education fund, section 467-19, the
contractors recovery fund, section 444-26, the contractors education fund,
section 444‑29, and the condominium [management] education trust
fund, section [514A-131.] 514B-76. Any law to the contrary
notwithstanding, the director may use the moneys in the fund to employ, without
regard to chapter 76, hearings officers, investigators, attorneys, accountants,
and other necessary personnel to implement this subsection. Any law to the
contrary notwithstanding, the moneys in the fund shall be used to fund the
operations of the department. Any law to the contrary notwithstanding, the
director may use moneys in the fund deposited under chapter 440G to support
public, educational, and governmental access facilities, equipment, and
operations in underserved areas pursuant to the standards and conditions
adopted in accordance with section 440G-15; provided that the use of moneys
shall be allowable only if there are available funds over and above any funds
needed for the operation of the department's cable television administration.
The moneys in the fund may be used to train personnel as the director deems
necessary and for any other activity related to compliance resolution.
As used in this subsection, unless otherwise required by the context, "compliance resolution" means a determination of whether:
(1) Any licensee or applicant under any chapter subject to the jurisdiction of the department of commerce and consumer affairs has complied with that chapter;
(2) Any person subject to chapter 485 has complied with that chapter;
(3) Any person submitting any filing required by chapter 514E or section 485-6(15) has complied with chapter 514E or section 485-6(15);
(4) Any person has complied with the prohibitions against unfair and deceptive acts or practices in trade or commerce; or
(5) Any person subject to chapter 467B has complied with that chapter;
and includes work involved in or supporting the above functions, licensing, or registration of individuals or companies regulated by the department, consumer protection, and other activities of the department.
The director shall prepare and submit an annual report to the governor and the legislature on the use of the compliance resolution fund. The report shall describe expenditures made from the fund including non-payroll operating expenses."
SECTION 4. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2007; provided that section 1 shall take effect on July 1, 2008.