STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1216-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.B. No. 2125

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred S.B. No. 2125 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LIQUOR LICENSES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to increase the maximum allowable fine for violations of the liquor control laws by a licensee from $2,000 to $5,000.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawaii Food Industry Association and one individual.

Your Committee finds that under existing law, violations of the State's liquor control laws are subject to a maximum fine of $2,000 which is an amount that has been in effect since 1987. Your Committee further finds that certain offenses under the liquor control laws that have the probability of repeating within a short period of time quickly reach this maximum fine limit. In these situations, the county liquor commissions or liquor control adjudication boards have no other option but to suspend or revoke a liquor license. This measure increases penalties for violations but also allows for a greater fine range, which will give the boards and commissions more leeway before they are required to impose the far more severe penalties of license suspension or revocation.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to January 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2125, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2125, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

AARON LING JOHANSON, Chair