STAND. COM. REP. NO. 642

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 646

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Intergovernmental and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 646 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY LEFT IN A DANGEROUS CONDITION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to establish civil penalties for property owners who fail to make reasonable efforts to repair properties left in a dangerous condition and authorize counties to place a lien on the property for costs incurred.

     No testimony on this measure was submitted.

     Your Committee finds that property owners who fail to make reasonable efforts to repair dangerous conditions on their properties present unnecessary risks to others.  The presence of hazardous property conditions leave citizens at considerable risk of personal injury. 

     Your Committee further finds that in the years following hurricanes and natural disasters, some property owners remain uninsured or choose to use their insurance proceeds in a manner inconsistent with the intended purpose of repairing their dangerous structures. 

     The intent of your Committee is to establish penalties for property owners failing to make reasonable efforts to repair their dangerous properties. 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Intergovernmental and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 646 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Intergovernmental and Military Affairs,

____________________________

LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair