STAND. COM. REP. NO. 518

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 747

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which was referred S.B. No. 747 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PETROLEUM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to require the Department of Agriculture to adopt rules to require retail gasoline and diesel dealers to post by January 1, 2012, the amount of federal, state, and local taxes paid on each gallon of fuel.

     Your Committee finds that this measure increases transparency in retail fuel purchases and provides consumers with important information on the price of a frequently-purchased commodity.  Your Committee further finds that most consumers have little or no information on the taxes imposed on gasoline, which constitutes a major part of many household budgets.  Finally, your Committee finds that this measure institutes a consumer protection that is long overdue.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 747 and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair