STAND. COM. REP. NO.  917

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   H.B. No. 1499

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1499, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATIONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

     (1)  Authorize the use of Condominium Education Trust Fund moneys to pay for the arbitration of condominium-related disputes; provided that all parties to the arbitration agree that the arbitrator's decision shall be binding and the parties waive their rights to trial de novo; and

     (2)  Establish a misdemeanor offense for noncompliance of parties involved in a condominium dispute with the statutorily established mediation or arbitration processes for resolving condominium disputes.  

Associa and two individuals supported this measure.  Three individuals opposed this measure.  The Real Estate Commission, Hawaii Council of Associations of Apartment Owners, and several individuals provided comments.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1499, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair