STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1384

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.R. No. 183

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism and Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which was referred S.R. No. 183 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND TOURISM TO CONDUCT A STUDY TO EXAMINE THE USE AND EFFECTS OF TRANSACTION MEDIUM EQUITY, WHICH INCLUDES ELECTRONIC TRANSACTIONS AND CASH TRANSACTIONS, ON CONSUMERS AND BUSINESSES IN THE STATE OF HAWAII,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request that the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism conduct a study to examine the use and effects of transaction medium equity, which includes electronic transactions and cash transactions, on consumers and businesses in the State.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from Cardtronics and one individual. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.

Your Committees find that information on the use of electronic and cash transactions in Hawaii should be gathered to help guide future legislation, policy recommendations, and decision-making on issues regarding transaction medium equity and how these forms of payment can either benefit or disadvantage consumers and businesses. Your Committees received testimony from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, which reported that it does not have the expertise or the resources to conduct the study envisioned by this measure. Your Committees further find that the Legislative Reference Bureau has the necessary expertise and experience to conduct this study, and therefore amendments are needed to address this concern.

Accordingly, your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Requesting that the Legislative Reference Bureau, instead of the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, conduct a study to examine the use and effects of transaction medium equity, which includes electronic transactions and cash transactions, on consumers and businesses in the State of Hawaii;

(2) Amending its title in accordance with its amended purpose; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism and Commerce and Consumer Protection that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 183, as amended herein, and recommend its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.R. No. 183, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism and Commerce and Consumer Protection,

________________________________ ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair

________________________________ GLENN WAKAI, Chair