STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1588-12

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2012

RE:   S.B. No. 2842

      S.D. 1

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 2842, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CIVIL ACTIONS FOR DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICES IN REAL PROPERTY TRANSACTIONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to make the law relating to the filing of civil actions in housing discrimination cases consistent with the federal law under the Fair Housing Act.  Specifically, this measure:

     (1)  Allows an aggrieved person to file a civil action in an appropriate court no later than two years after the occurrence or termination of an alleged discriminatory housing practice;

     (2)  Directs the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission to issue a right to sue on a complaint filed with the Commission if it is determined that a civil action alleging similar facts has also been filed; and

     (3)  Specifies available remedies in a civil action for housing discrimination.

The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations and the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission testified in support of this measure.

     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 S.B. No. 2842, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair