STAND. COM. REP. NO.  743

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2011

RE:   H.B. No. 550

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 550 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TELEVISION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to enhance the efficient provision of public access programming which provides a valuable community service by:

     (1)  Directing the Auditor to review the basis and rationale of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs' (DCCA) current allocation of cable operator franchise fees to public, education, and government (PEG) access organizations, the Hawaii Public Television Foundation, and DCCA's Cable Television Division and submit a report to the Legislature;

     (2)  Directing the Auditor to contract for a performance review or audit of Olelo Community Television; and

     (3)  Appropriating unspecified funds from DCCA's Compliance Resolution Fund for the contracted performance review or audit.

     DCCA and Olelo Community Media provided comments.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2030, to encourage further discussion; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     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. 550, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 550, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair