HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	811
TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2013		H.D. 2
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO ENERGY INFORMATION REPORTING.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  The purpose of this Act is to improve the ease and efficiency of Energy Industry Information Reporting Act processes for reporting entities by combining all information and registration gathering functions within the department of business, economic development, and tourism.  This Act also clarifies enforcement and investigatory powers of the public utilities commission following the consolidation of information gathering and registration functions within the department of business, economic development, and tourism.

     SECTION 2.  Section 486B-1.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "[[]§486B-1.5[]]  Monitoring of petroleum industry information.  The public utilities commission or the department of business, economic development, and tourism shall refer to the attorney general any matter that is a violation of this chapter that is discovered in the performance of its duties pursuant to chapter 486H or 486J."

     SECTION 3.  Section 486J-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§486J-2  Distributors to register.  Every distributor, and any person before becoming a distributor, shall register as such with the [commission] department on forms to be prescribed, prepared, and furnished by the [commission.] department."

     SECTION 4.  Section 486J-11, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is repealed.

     ["§486J-11  Powers of the public utilities commission.  (a)  The public utilities commission may take any action or make any determination under this chapter, including but not limited to actions or determinations that affect persons not regulated under chapters 269, 271, and 271G, as the commission deems necessary to carry out its responsibilities or otherwise effectuate chapter 269, 271, or 271G.

(b)  The public utilities commission may examine or investigate each distributor, the manner in which it is operated, its prices and rates, its operating costs and expenses, the value of its property and assets, the amount and disposition of its income, any of its financial transactions, its business relations with other persons, companies, or corporations, its compliance with all applicable state and federal laws, and all matters of any nature affecting the relations and transactions between the distributor and the public, persons, or businesses.

(c)  In the performance of its duties under this chapter, the commission shall have the same powers respecting administering oaths, compelling the attendance of witnesses and the production of documents, examining witnesses, and punishing for contempt, as are possessed by the circuit courts.  In case of disobedience by any person to any order of or subpoena issued by the commission, or of the refusal of any witness to testify to any matter regarding which the witness may be lawfully questioned, any circuit court, upon application by the commission, shall compel obedience as in case of disobedience of the requirements of a subpoena issued from a circuit court or a refusal to testify therein."]

     SECTION 5.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 6.  This Act shall take effect on January 20, 2050.

Report Title:

Energy Industry Information Reporting Act; Public Utilities Commission; Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Registration

Description:

Amends the responsibilities and powers of the Public Utilities Commission in receiving energy industry data information registrations, and authorizes the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to receive such registrations; and eliminates the Commission's powers concerning the oversight and examination of energy distributors in relation to energy industry information reporting under chapter 486J, Hawaii Revised Statutes.  Effective January 20, 2050.  (HB811 HD2)

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