STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1354

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   S.B. No. 887

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 2

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred S.B. No. 887, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to apply a surcharge for advanced 911 services on prepaid wireless telecommunications service in a manner equivalent to the enhanced 911 surcharge applicable to other cellular and telephone services under section 138-4, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

The Department of Accounting and General Services, Enhanced 911 Board, Office of Enterprise Technology Services, Honolulu Police Department, Maui Police Department, Maui Police Department-Molokai PSAP, Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association, and two concerned individuals testified in support of this measure.  The Retail Merchants of Hawaii testified in opposition to this measure.  The Hawaii Association for Justice and Tax Foundation of Hawaii provided comments.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Deleting the immunity provision that would have applied to providers or sellers of prepaid wireless telecommunications service for providing lawful assistance to any investigative or law enforcement officer in connection with any lawful investigation or law enforcement activity; and

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

     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. 887, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 887, S.D. 2, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

ROY M. TAKUMI, Chair