STAND. COM. REP. NO.  548

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2011

RE:   H.B. No. 1456

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Consumer Protection & Commerce and Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 1456 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE PETROLEUM INDUSTRY,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to protect small businesses by:

     (1)  Making unfair trade practices by the petroleum industry subject to an administrative rather than criminal penalty;

     (2)  Eliminating the ceiling of $10,000 for each violation of the unfair trade practices law; and

     (3)  Establishing a fine of not more than $5,000 for each day a person is in violation of the unfair trade practices law.

     Several concerned individuals testified in support of this bill.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Consumer Protection & Commerce and Energy & Environmental Protection that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1456 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Consumer Protection & Commerce and Energy & Environmental Protection,

____________________________ HERMINA MORITA, Chair

____________________________ ROBERT N. HERKES, Chair