Report Title:

Scrap Dealers; License; Penalties

 

Description:

Transfers licensing issuance and enforcement duties for scrap dealers to the Department of Health.  Establishes penalties for failure to obtain license and written statements from sellers regarding ownership of scrap.  Exempts currently licensed scrap dealers for 180 days of effective date.

 


HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1619

TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT


 

 

relating to scrap dealers.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  The Hawaii Revised Statutes is amended by adding a new chapter to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

Chapter  

SCRAP DEALERS

     §    -1  Definitions.  As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:

     "Department" means the department of health.

     "Director" means the director of health.

     "Scrap" means any secondhand or used metal except those used motor vehicle parts provided in chapter 289.

     "Scrap dealer" means any person engaged in the business of buying, selling, or dealing in scrap, or any person operating, carrying on, conducting, or maintaining a scrap yard.

     "Scrap yard" means any yard, plot, space, enclosure, building, or any other place where scrap is collected, stored, gathered together, and kept.

     §    -2  License required.  No person shall engage in the business of a scrap dealer without first obtaining a license under this chapter and the rules of the director.  The director shall have the power to grant, revoke, suspend, and reinstate the license upon reasonable cause. 

     §    -3  Fees.  Every person holding a license under this chapter shall register with the director and pay an annual license fee on or before June 30 of each year of $10.  Failure to pay the annual fee shall constitute a forfeiture of the license as of the date of expiration.  Any license so forfeited may be restored within one year after the expiration upon filing of an application and payment of a restoration fee, to be determined by the director.

     Any person required to be licensed under chapter 289 or 445-171 shall not be required to pay an additional fee under this chapter; provided that the person obtains the license required by this chapter and follows the requirements of this chapter when acting as a scrap dealer.

     §    -4  Information required on license.  Every license granted under this section shall designate the place where business is carried on and sufficient identifying information including the licensee's name, address, general excise tax license number, and other information which may be prescribed by the director.

     §    -5  Issuance of license.  Upon receipt of an application for a license to conduct business as a scrap dealer, the director may order the issuance of the license; provided that the application is complete and in proper form.

     Every license shall be valid only as to the scrap dealer and premises named therein.  The location of a scrap dealer shall not be changed without the written consent of the director and the change of location shall be endorsed on the license. 

     The license shall be transferable with the approval of the director.

     §    -6  Statement required; recordkeeping.  Every scrap dealer, when the dealer purchases scrap within the state, shall obtain a written statement signed by the seller of the scrap or the seller's agent certifying that the seller or the seller's agent has the lawful right to sell and dispose of the scrap.  This statement shall also contain:

     (1)  The seller's name;

     (2)  The seller's business or residence address;

     (3)  The seller's occupation;

     (4)  A description, including serial numbers and other identifying marks, when practical, of every scrap;

     (5)  The amount received by the seller;

     (6)  The date, time and place of the sale; and

     (7)  The license number of any vehicle used to deliver the property to the place of purchase.

     The scrap dealer shall require the seller to verify the seller's identity by presenting proper identification.  The scrap dealer shall keep at the dealer's place of business the signed written statement from the seller for a period of two years after the date of purchase.

     §    -7  Entry and inspection of records.  The director or chief of police of the county in which the scrap dealer is located may enter and inspect any building or place at any time for the purpose of:

     (1)  Investigating an actual or suspected violation of this chapter; and

     (2)  Examining, reviewing, and copying statements.

     §    -8  Penalties; revocation of license.  Any scrap dealer who violates this chapter, or who falsifies a statement required under this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. 

     If a person, after being sentenced under this section on three separate and prior occasions, fails to comply with the requirements of this chapter, the director may permanently revoke the person's license provided for under this chapter. 

     §    -9  Rulemaking; enforcement by state and county authorities.       The director may adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91, necessary for the purposes of this chapter.

     All state and county health authorities and police officers shall enforce this chapter and the rules of the department."

     SECTION 2.  Section 286-48, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (c) to read as follows:

     "(c)  Upon resale of the salvage vehicle, the seller or, if the seller is an insurance company, its authorized agent shall transfer the salvage certificate and issue a bill of sale to the purchaser which shall be on a form prescribed by the director of finance.  The seller shall notify the purchaser, in writing, of the requirements of this chapter regarding the recertification of salvage vehicles.  The seller shall sell the salvage vehicle only to a person licensed pursuant to chapter 437B, sections 289-4, or [445-232,] chapter   , or any person who executes an affidavit which states whether or not the salvage vehicle would be used to construct a rebuilt vehicle as defined in section 286-2 and that if the salvage vehicle is to be rebuilt, the purchaser will register the rebuilt vehicle as required by this chapter."

     SECTION 3.  Chapter 445, Part X, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is repealed.

     SECTION 4.  This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun, before its effective date.

     SECTION 5.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 6.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval; provided that a scrap dealer who was issued a license under chapter 445, part X, Hawaii Revised Statutes, before the effective date of this Act shall not be penalized by any provision of this Act; provided that the licensed scrap dealer obtains a new license under the provisions of this Act within 180 days of its effective date or such greater time as the director of health may require to process the initial application under this Act.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________