STAND. COM. REP. NO. 698

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 1999

                                 RE: H.B. No. 1080
                                     H.D. 1




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce, to which
was referred H.B. No. 1080, H.D. 1, entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE NAMES OF CORPORATIONS,
     PARTNERSHIPS, AND LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to provide administrative relief
for name disputes between legal entities.

     Presently, if the name of a corporation, partnership,
limited liability partnership or limited liability company was
substantially or confusingly similar to the name of another legal
entity, the only relief available to the aggrieved party is
through the courts.  The legal costs of resolving the dispute
could be substantial in both time and money.

     This bill establishes an alternative procedure whereby a
business entity aggrieved by the business name of another
business entity could seek relief administratively.  The bill
provides for an administrative hearing process and the authority
to order the abatement of a name.  Your Committee finds that the
process is expeditious, convenient and a relatively inexpensive
method of resolving name disputes.


 
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                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 698
                                 Page 2

 
     Your Committee received favorable testimony from the
Business Registration Division of the Department of Commerce and
Consumer Affairs.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce that is attached to
this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and
purpose of H.B. No. 1080, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be
referred to the Committee on Finance.

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



                                   ______________________________
                                   RON MENOR, Chair

 
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