STAND. COM. REP. NO.  975

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

 

RE:   S.B. No. 193

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Public Safety, to which was referred S.B. No. 193, S.D. 2, entitled:

 

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

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to establish an E911 surcharge on each retail transaction of a prepaid wireless telecommunications service, similar to the enhanced 911 surcharge imposed on postpaid wireless communication services.

 

     The Enhanced 911 Board, Honolulu Police Department, Hawaii Police Department, CTIA-The Wireless Association, and Verizon supported this measure.  The Hawaii Food Industry Association opposed this measure.  The Department of Taxation and Tax Foundation of Hawaii offered comments on this measure.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Removing a reference to section 237-13.8, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to prevent confusion between the general excise tax and the proposed surcharge; and

 

     (2)  Clarifying when retail transactions are considered to have occurred within the state.

 

     Should the Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce deliberate this measure further, your Committee on Public Safety respectfully requests, and strongly suggests, that if the prepaid wireless E911 surcharge is imposed, an appropriate reduction of the 66 cent postpaid wireless enhanced 911 surcharge be enacted.  Your Committee on Public Safety finds that this would be fair and equitable while still ensuring adequate funding to the Enhanced 911 fund.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 193, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 193, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

GREGG TAKAYAMA, Chair