Report Title:

Position funding

 

Description:

Increases the number of exempt utility analysts assigned to the Division of Consumer Advocacy from 4 to 10.  Provides funding for 2 permanent utility analysts.

 


HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1308

TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT


 

 

RELATING TO THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER ADVOCACY.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  The division of consumer advocacy of the department of commerce and consumer affairs is statutorily mandated to represent, protect, and advance the interests of all consumers of utility services.  The field of utility regulation is highly complex and specialized, and requires an equally high level of expertise to ensure that consumers are well represented and protected.

     By Act 143, Session Laws of Hawaii 2006, the legislature recognized that there is a need for the division to function more effectively and efficiently in light of changing regulatory conditions, duties, and requirements, and advances in technology.  Act 143 also mandates the division to conduct a review of its organization and to propose any necessary legislation that will enable it to more effectively protect and represent the interests of consumers.  This measure represents the division's first step toward reaching the goals and objectives set forth in Act 143.

     The purpose of this Act is to increase the number of utility analysts exempt from chapter 76, Hawaii Revised Statutes, assigned to the division from four to ten, and to provide the funding for those positions for which funding is not already provided.

     SECTION 2.  Section 269-52, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§269-52  Division of consumer advocacy; personnel.  There shall be a division of consumer advocacy within the department of commerce and consumer affairs to provide administrative support to the director of commerce and consumer affairs acting in the capacity of consumer advocate.  The director may employ and at pleasure dismiss an executive administrator, who shall be exempt from chapter 76, may define the executive administrator's powers and duties, and fix the executive administrator's compensation.  The director may employ engineers, accountants, investigators, clerks, and stenographers as may be necessary for the performance of the consumer advocate's functions, in accordance with chapter 76; provided that:

     (1)  The director may employ up to [four] ten utility analysts exempt from chapter 76; and

     (2)  Each analyst shall possess at least the minimum qualifications required of comparable experts in the relevant industry."

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the public utilities commission special fund the sum of $168,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2007-2008, and the sum of $168,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009, to be deposited into the compliance resolution fund to be used for the operations of the division of consumer advocacy, department of commerce and consumer affairs.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the public utilities commission for the purposes of this section.

     SECTION 4.  There is appropriated out of the compliance resolution fund the sum of $168,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2007-2008, and the sum of $168,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009, for two permanent utility analyst positions exempt from chapter 76, Hawaii Revised Statutes, in the division of consumer advocacy, department of commerce and consumer affairs.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of commerce and consumer affairs for the purposes of this section.

     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.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

 

 

BY REQUEST