STAND. COM. REP. NO. 295

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 1016

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.B. No. 1016 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE UNIFORM ATHLETE AGENTS ACT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is enact the Uniform Athlete Agents Act and to protect student-athletes and education institutions from potential harm caused by unscrupulous athlete agents.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaii and the Commission to Promote Uniform Legislation.  The Professional and Vocational Licensing Division of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (PVLD) submitted testimony in opposition to this measure.

     Your Committee notes that the Office of the State Auditor has conducted a sunrise analysis regarding regulating athlete agents as required by section 26H-6, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and pursuant to House Resolution No. 112, Senate Draft 1, of the 2006 Regular Session.  Although the Office of the State Auditor concluded that regulation of athlete agents in Hawaii is unnecessary at this time, Hawaii is one of twelve states that does not have any type of law to regulate athlete agents and that the State should not wait until unscrupulous acts of athlete agents becomes a problem and causes significant damage to student athletes and educational institutions in the State.  Your Committee further notes that the testimony of the PVLD indicated that the impact of regulating athlete agents to both taxpayers and consumers would be minimal. 

     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 is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1016 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Labor.

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

____________________________

BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair