STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1406

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 93

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 93 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION TO UPGRADE AND MODERNIZE ITS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Department of Taxation to upgrade and modernize its communication system.

     Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Taxation.

     Your Committee understands that taxpayers have had difficulty reaching the Department of Taxation's employees by telephone.  Not only has the situation led to frustration and inconvenience among affected taxpayers, but frontline department employees also face increasing pressure.  Your Committee finds that this situation should be rectified.

     Your Committee also finds that the communication problem may be the result of the Department of Taxation's inattention to the business side of the tax system modernization project.  Your Committee requests the Department to pay more attention to frontline employees who, along with taxpayers, should be regarded as the primary stakeholders in the tax system modernization project.

     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 concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 93 and recommends its adoption.

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

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JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair