STAND. COM. REP. NO.  830

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

RE:   H.B. No. 1031

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1031 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CHAPTER 480, HAWAII REVISED STATUTES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to improve Hawaii's antitrust laws by clarifying:

     (1)  The ability of government entities to bring an action based on unfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts or practices;

     (2)  The right of government entities to bring an antitrust action for damages notwithstanding their status as indirect purchasers; and

     (3)  That any civil action or proceeding authorized under Hawaii's antitrust laws may be brought in any appropriate court, and not only the court in the circuit where the defendant resides, does business, or has an agent.

     The Department of the Attorney General supported this bill.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1031 and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair