STAND. COM. REP. NO.  879

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1014

      H.D. 3

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1014, H.D. 2, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENHANCED 911 SERVICES,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to establish a single entity to administer enhanced 911 services for the state.  Among other things, this bill:

 

     (1)  Renames the existing Wireless Enhanced 911 Board as the Enhanced 911 Board (Board) and expands the membership of the Board from 11 to 14 members; and

 

     (2)  Establishes a monthly surcharge of 46 cents per month for each communications service connection, including both wireless and wireline connections, for enhanced 911 service.

 

     The Department of Accounting and General Services supported this bill.  The County of Kauai Department of Finance and Hawaiian Telcom opposed this bill.  The Department of Information Technology of the City and County of Honolulu, Honolulu Police Department, State Fire Council, Honolulu Fire Department, Tax Foundation of Hawaii, and AT&T submitted comments.

 

     Your Committee recognizes that concerns were raised regarding the 46 cents monthly surcharge set forth in this bill as it represents an increase of 19 cents from the 27 cents surcharge currently assessed for wireline customers.  With the primary wireline carrier in Hawaii having filed for bankruptcy, the increased surcharge may pose yet another financial obstacle for the wireline carrier in its efforts to reorganize and return to profitability as a viable business.

 

     Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by changing the monthly surcharge to an unspecified amount to encourage further discussion.  Other technical, nonsubstantive amendments were made for clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1014, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1014, H.D. 3.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair