STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2958

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 2145

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Tourism and Government Operations, to which was referred H.B. No. 2145, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO UNCLAIMED PROPERTY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to allow a claimant of unclaimed property in the custody of the State, if the claimant is unable to present the requested documentation of ownership of the unclaimed property, to assert ownership through a notarized affidavit signed under penalty of perjury that certain information is true.

     Your Committee received testimony in opposition of this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.  Comments were received from the State Attorney General.

     The intent of this measure is to facilitate the process for making valid claims on unclaimed property.  The affidavit required under this measure contains information that otherwise would be difficult if not impossible to prove. 

     Your Committee has amended this measure on the recommendation of the Attorney General by specifying the statutory section number for the offense of perjury, and by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Tourism and Government Operations that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2145, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2145, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committees on Judiciary and Labor and Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Tourism and Government Operations,

____________________________

CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair