STAND. COM. REP. NO.  429-16

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2016

RE:   H.B. No. 2639

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 2639 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

     (1)  Require a wireless telecommunications provider that has received a written request from a domestic abuse victim to:

          (A)  Transfer the billing authority and all rights to a wireless telephone number to the victim; or

          (B)  Remove or release the victim from a shared wireless plan and assign the victim a substitute telephone number,

          to fulfill that request within 48 hours of submittal of the request without charge, penalty, or fee; and

     (2)  Provide protection from liability for wireless telecommunications service providers, and their officers, employees, or agents for transferring billing authority and all rights to a wireless telephone number to a domestic abuse victim pursuant to section 269-16.93, Hawaii Revised Statutes.  

Verizon, Sprint, Hawaii Women's Coalition, and a concerned individual supported this measure.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2639 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services,

____________________________

DEE MORIKAWA, Chair