Report Title:

Consumer Advocate

 

Description:

Requires the Consumer Advocate to establish a Consumer Advocate Community Advisory Committee for the purpose of determining the kinds of utilities issues that are important to consumers, and providing guidelines for positions taken by the consumer advocate in Public Utilities Commission hearings.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1388

TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2001

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

RELATING TO THE CONSUMER ADVOCATE.

 

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that a cornerstone of good government is the ability to stay responsive to the needs and interests of the public. As the community and community issues needing resolution have grown in size and complexity, the State has responded by organizing community advisory committees to keep in touch with the people being served. These committees include the Environmental Management Advisory Group, which assists the department of health, and the Diamond Head Citizen Advisory Committee, which provides advice to the department of land and natural resources.

The legislature finds that government responsiveness is especially crucial in the regulation of public utilities that provide our citizens with power, transportation, and other essential services. The office of the consumer advocate was created to represent the interests of the public before the public utilities commission, yet few members of the general public are aware that the office of the consumer advocate even exists, and no formal mechanism exists to allow the consumer advocate to determine the public interest.

The purpose of this Act is to increase the responsiveness of the public utilities commission to public needs, by mandating that the consumer advocate establish a community advisory committee to provide the consumer advocate with advice and assistance in representing the public in proceedings before the public utilities commission.

SECTION 2. Chapter 269, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part II to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§269- Consumer advocate community advisory committee. The consumer advocate shall establish a consumer advocate community advisory committee, the members of which shall serve as consultants to the consumer advocate on the public interests to be represented and protected by the consumer advocate. Members shall be appointed by the consumer advocate. Members of the advisory committee shall not be affiliated with, or be employees of public utilities regulated by the commission.

The committee shall meet monthly. Members shall serve voluntarily and without compensation. Members shall be immune from civil liability for any act done in connection with this section."

SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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