STAND. COM. REP. NO.  757

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

RE:   H.B. No. 293

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 293, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LIQUOR LICENSES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to improve the efficiency of the liquor license application and renewal process and ensure the accountability of applicants by authorizing county liquor commissions to accept a certificate of vendor compliance issued by Hawaii Compliance Express as satisfactory evidence of an applicant's tax clearance with the Internal Revenue Service and Department of Taxation.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Liquor Commission of the City and County of Honolulu and the Department of Liquor Control of the County of Kauai.

     Your Committee finds that the current process for applying for a new liquor license or the transfer or renewal of an existing license can be difficult and cumbersome and can delay the issuance or renewal of those licenses.  The process requires that an applicant produce a signed certificate from the Department of Taxation and the Internal Revenue Service showing that the applicant does not owe the State or federal government any delinquent taxes, penalties, or interest. 

Your Committee further finds that allowing the use of certificates of vendor compliance, which are issued by Hawaii Compliance Express and certify that a vendor is compliant with all applicable laws, would help reduce delays in the issuance or renewal of liquor licenses and ensure applicant accountability by streamlining the license application and renewal process.

     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 H.B. No. 293, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

ANGUS L.K. McKELVEY, Chair