STAND. COM. REP. NO.  647-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

RE:   H.B. No. 1656

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 1656 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SERVICE OF PROCESS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to specify the manner in which summons are served for civil actions in Hawaii.

The Department of Public Safety, Collection Law Section of the Hawaii State Bar Association, Hawaii Bankers Association, Mortgage Bankers Association of Hawaii, and two concerned individuals supported this bill.  The Hawaii Financial Services Association and Hawaii Credit Union League submitted comments.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Changing its effective date to January 1, 2100, to facilitate further discussion; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     Your Committee notes that the requirements for service of summons contained in this bill may conflict with those contained in H.B. No. 1415, which your Committee also considered and recommended for passage on Second Reading, as well as with existing sections of the Hawaii Revised Statutes.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1656, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1656, H.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

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

____________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair