STAND. COM. REP. NO.  684

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2011

RE:   H.B. No. 747

      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 Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 747 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LIQUOR LIABILITY INSURANCE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to amend the licensing requirements of the liquor commission by removing retailers and licensees holding class 4 licenses from those licensees required to hold liquor liability insurance of no less than $1,000,000.  In addition, this bill revokes the exemption for minimarts holding class 4 licenses to maintain liquor liability insurance coverage of no less than $1,000,000.

     The City and County of Honolulu Liquor Commission testified in support of this measure.  The Hawaii Association for Justice opposed this bill.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Reinstating class 4 licenses to the list requiring holders to obtain a minimum amount of liability insurance;

     (2)  Reinstating the exception for convenience minimarts holding a class 4 license to obtaining the minimum amount of liability insurance; and

     (3)  Changing its effective date to January 7, 2059, to encourage further discussion.    

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 747, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 747, H.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

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

____________________________

GILBERT KEITH-AGARAN, Chair