STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2736

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 2805

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2805, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENHANCED 911 SERVICES,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to provide fairness among wireless customers. 

 

More specifically, this measure imposes a prepaid wireless E911 surcharge of $.66 per retail transaction of prepaid wireless telecommunications service, the net proceeds of which are deposited in the enhanced 911 fund.   

 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Accounting and General Services, Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, State of Hawaii Enhanced 911 Board, County of Hawaii Fire Department, County of Maui Fire Department, County of Kauai Fire Department, City and County of Honolulu Fire Department, Honolulu Police Department, Oceanic Time Warner Cable, and three individuals. 

 

     Your Committee finds that the enhanced 911 fund is used to sustain the Public Safety Answering Points System, which transmits, receives, and dispatches emergency calls.  Your Committee also finds that currently, prepaid wireless customers are exempt from paying the $.66 surcharge to the enhanced 911 fund, although they have the same access as other wireless customers to the 911 system.  Accordingly, your Committee finds that this measure provides for a fair and equitable contribution to the 911 system by all wireless customers. 

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2805, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

 

 

 

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair