STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1209-00

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 2000

                                 RE: S.B. No. 2283
                                     S.D. 1
                                     H.D. 1




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce, to which
was referred S.B. No. 2283, S.D. 1, entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE PUBLIC UTILITIES
     COMMISSION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to authorize the Public
Utilities Commission (PUC) to require parties in PUC proceedings
to participate in non-binding alternative dispute resolution
measures prior to hearing.

     The PUC and Malama O Manoa testified in support of this
bill.  The Division of Consumer Advocacy, GTE, Kauai Electric and
the Gas Company submitted testimony in support of the intent of
this measure.  The Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc., commented on
the bill. 

     Your Committee has amended this bill by delaying the
effective date to July 1, 2050 to ensure further discussions.

     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 S.B. No. 2283, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and
recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached
hereto as S.B. No. 2283, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be placed on the
calendar for Third Reading.

 
 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1209-00
                                 Page 2

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



                                   ______________________________
                                   RON MENOR, Chair