STAND. COM. REP. NO.  956

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

 

RE:   S.B. No. 1154

 

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Economic Development & Business, to which was referred S.B. No. 1154 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE LIQUOR COMMISSION,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to simplify the liquor license application public hearing process, thereby assisting liquor license applicants in opening their establishments in a more timely manner, while maintaining sufficient time for public concerns regarding the establishment to be brought forth by requiring that, for counties with a population of 500,000 or more, a notice of a public hearing on an application for a liquor license before a county liquor commission be mailed at least 30 days prior to the date set for the hearing.

 

     The Liquor Commission of the City and County of Honolulu and two concerned individuals testified in support of this measure.

 

     Establishing a liquor licensed business in Hawaii requires a considerable amount of time and a significant financial investment.  Obtaining a liquor license is a critical step in commencing operations and generating revenue to offset these costs.  Currently, in Honolulu, the wait time between a notice of a public hearing on a liquor license application and the actual hearing itself is 45 days.  While your Committee understands that this wait time was established to ensure that individuals have sufficient time to determine the impact the issuance of a liquor license would have on the community, your Committee finds that reducing the wait time to 30 days would enable approved liquor license applicants to commence operations sooner, while providing ample time for individuals to evaluate and comment on the liquor license application.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Economic Development & Business that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1154 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Economic Development & Business,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

DEREK S.K. KAWAKAMI, Chair