STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2970

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 2120

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 2120 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO GIFT CERTIFICATES,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to provide that certain county-issued transit cards and certificates are not subject to the State's regulations related to gift certificates.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the City and County of Honolulu Department of Transportation Services and County of Maui Department of Transportation.

 

     Your Committee finds that, like many other large cities, Honolulu has adopted a smart card for public transit passengers to pay for fares on TheBus and Handi-Van.  The "HOLO card" may be registered and reloaded, eliminating the need to purchase daily and monthly bus passes, and can be programed for discounted users like youth and seniors.  The HOLO card will also be the sole form of fare payment on the Honolulu Rail Transit System.  Existing statutory language concerning requirements of private businesses and retailers regarding gift certificates, especially those requirements concerning unspent value and redemption balances, are not necessarily applicable to county-issued and county-administered cards.  This measure seeks to clearly distinguish transit cards and other similar county-issued cards to support the administration of the smart card program.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2120 and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

 

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

 

 

 

________________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair