STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3411

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 2253

       H.D. 2

       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 Judiciary and Labor, to which was referred H.B. No. 2253, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AMENDING OR REPEALING VARIOUS PROVISIONS OF CHAPTER 281, HAWAII REVISED STATUTES, INTOXICATING LIQUOR, FOR THE PURPOSE OF CLARIFYING LANGUAGE, CORRECTING ERRORS, AND DELETING UNNECESSARY AND OBSOLETE PROVISIONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to enhance the administration of liquor laws by updating the statutes relating to licensing, adjudications, and operations of the liquor industry.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Small Business Regulatory Review Board and Kauai County Liquor Department (also testifying on behalf of all county liquor departments and commissions).  Testimony in opposition was received from the Hawaii Bar Owners Association, Honolulu Tavern, E & J Lounge Operating Co., Inc., Bombay's of Amsterdam Inc., and four individuals.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Deleting the purpose section as it no longer accurately describes the amended measure;

     (2)  Deleting section 4, relating to using license fees for enforcement, because the title of this measure does not accommodate substantive amendments;

     (3)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to continue discussions on this matter, including the review of other proposed changes that may be substantive amendments; and

     (4)  Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment to conform the measure to the preferred drafting style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Labor that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2253, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2253, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary and Labor,

____________________________

BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair