HB2445.DOC

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that current law on exemption from real property attachment and from certain personal property attachment needs to be updated to ease the financial burden on Hawaii families who struggle to earn a living while simultaneously living under heavy debt obligations. Some of these individuals collect unemployment compensation benefits and must hope for a job before the benefits run out. Meanwhile they risk losing their assets for lack of income to pay their debts.

SECTION 2. Section 651-92, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§651-92 Real property exempt. (a) [~~Real property shall be exempt from attachment or execution as follows:~~

~~(1)~~] An interest in one parcel of real property in the State of Hawaii of a fair market value not exceeding [~~$30,000~~] the most recent real property tax assessment of the property, that is owned by the defendant [~~who is either the head of a family or an individual sixty-five years of age or older.~~], including properties under the department of Hawaiian home lands, shall be exempt from attachment or execution.

[~~(2)~~ ~~An interest in one parcel of real property in the State of Hawaii of a fair market value not exceeding $20,000 owned by the defendant who is a person.~~]

The fair market value of the interest exempted in [~~paragraphs (1) or (2)~~] this subsection shall [~~be determined by appraisal and shall~~] be an interest [~~which~~] that is over and above all liens and encumbrances on the real property recorded prior to the lien under which the attachment or execution is to be made. Not more than one exemption shall be claimed on any one parcel of real property even though more than one person residing on [~~such~~] the real property may otherwise be entitled to an exemption.

Any claim of exemption under this section made before [~~May 27, 1976,~~] July 1, 2014, shall be deemed to be amended on [~~May 27, 1976,~~] July 1, 2014, by increasing the exemption to the amount permitted by this section on [~~May 27, 1976,~~] July 1, 2014, to the extent that [~~such~~] the increase does not impair or defeat the right of any creditor who has executed upon the real property prior to [~~May 27, 1976.~~] July 1, 2014.

(b) No exemption authorized under this section shall apply to process arising from:

(1) A lien as provided by section 507-42;

(2) A lien or security interest created by a mortgage, security agreement, or other security instrument;

(3) A tax lien in the name of the federal or state government;

(4) An improvement district lien of any county of the State; or

(5) A lien or encumbrance recorded against the real property prior to the acquisition of interest in and commencement of residence on such real property.

(c) Attachment or execution shall not apply to a debtor who is not delinquent in payment of income taxes, real property taxes, or mortgages, as applicable."

SECTION 3. Section 651-121, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§651-121 Certain personal property and insurance thereon, exempt. The following described personal property of an individual up to the value set forth shall be exempt from attachment and execution as follows:

(1) All necessary household furnishings and appliances, books and wearing apparel, ordinarily and reasonably necessary to, and personally used by a debtor or the debtor's family residing with the debtor; and, in addition thereto, jewelry, watches, and items of personal adornment up to an aggregate cash value not exceeding [~~$1,000.~~] the fair market value of such items as adjusted by the most recent consumer price index.

(2) One motor vehicle up to [a] the fair market value of [~~$2,575,~~] the vehicle as adjusted by the most recent consumer price index, over and above all liens and encumbrances on the motor vehicle; provided that the value of the motor vehicle shall be measured by established wholesale used car prices customarily found in guides used by Hawaii motor vehicle dealers; or, if not listed in such guides, fair wholesale market value, with necessary adjustment for condition.

(3) Any combination of the following: tools, implements, instruments, uniforms, furnishings, books, equipment, one commercial fishing boat and nets, one motor vehicle, and other personal property ordinarily and reasonably necessary to and personally owned and used by the debtor in the exercise of the debtor's trade, business, calling, or profession by which the debtor earns the debtor's livelihood.

(4) One parcel of land, not exceeding two hundred fifty square feet in size, niche or interment space owned, used, or occupied by any person, or by any person jointly with any other person or persons, in any graveyard, cemetery, or other place for the sole purpose of burying the dead, together with the railing or fencing enclosing the same, and all gravestones, tombstones, monuments, and other appropriate improvements thereon erected.

(5) The proceeds of insurance on, and the proceeds of the sale of, the property in this section mentioned, for the period of six months from the date the proceeds are received.

(6) The wages, salaries, commissions, and all other compensation for personal services due to the debtor for services rendered during the thirty-one days before the date of the proceeding.

(7) Child support, as defined in section 576D-1, notwithstanding that the moneys for child support may be comingled in a bank account.

(8) Tax refunds that result from a federal earned income tax credit.

(9) Tax refunds that result from federal or state child tax credits."

SECTION 4. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2014; provided that the amendments made to section 651-121(8) and (9), Hawaii Revised Statutes, in section 3 of this Act shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2013.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2445
TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2014
STATE OF HAWAII