STAND. COM. REP. NO. 158

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: H.B. No. 554

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Labor & Public Employment, to which was referred H.B. No. 554 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EXPENSES OF NEIGHBOR ISLAND RESIDENT PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSIONERS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require payment of travel expenses and per diem allowance to members of the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) who are residents of a county other than the City and County of Honolulu for travel authorized by the PUC.

The PUC and Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs testified in support of this measure. Citizens' Caucus opposed this measure.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing its effective date to January 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Labor & Public Employment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 554, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 554, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Labor & Public Employment,

____________________________

AARON LING JOHANSON, Chair