STAND. COM. REP. NO.  991

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

RE:   S.B. No. 1042

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred S.B. No. 1042, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to improve the flexibility of the Public Utilities Commission in hiring professional staff.

     Specifically, this measure removes references to specific office restructuring and position titles required or authorized under statutes related to the Public Utilities Commission.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Consumer Advocacy Division, the Public Utilities Commission, and the Hawaii Energy Policy Forum.

     Your Committee finds that this measure will allow the Chairperson of the Public Utilities Commission to hire personnel with relevant knowledge and experience to enable the Commission to fulfill its rapidly changing regulatory duties.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 2112, to facilitate continued discussion.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1042, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1042, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,

____________________________

ANGUS L.K. McKELVEY, Chair