Bill Text: HI SB758 | 2020 | Regular Session | Introduced

Hawaii Senate Bill 758 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Relating To The Division Of The Consumer Advocate.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-12-01 - Carried over to 2020 Regular Session. [SB758 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2020-SB758-Introduced.html

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	758
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to the division of the consumer advocate.

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

SECTION 1. The division of the consumer advocate is intended to protect and advance the interests of Hawaii's consumers of regulated public utilities and transportation services. Despite numerous statutes and administrative rules that have been adopted to set forth the division's duties and mandates, the legislature finds that the division of the consumer advocate is not performing certain functions.

The purpose of this Act is to prioritize the duties of the division of the consumer advocate.

SECTION 2. Section 269-51, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§269-51 Consumer advocate; executive director of the division of consumer advocacy. The executive director of the division of consumer advocacy shall be the consumer advocate in hearings before the public utilities commission[.], whose duties shall be primarily dedicated to proceedings concerning accounting, financing, and rates. The consumer advocate shall represent, protect, and advance the interests of all consumers, including small businesses, of utility services.

The responsibility of the consumer advocate for advocating the interests of the consumer of utility services shall be separate and distinct from the responsibilities of the public utilities commission and those assistants employed by the commission. The consumer advocate shall have full rights to participate as a party in interest in all proceedings before the public utilities commission."

SECTION 3. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

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

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

Public Utilities Commission; Division of the Consumer Advocate; Duties

Description:

Prioritizes the duties of the division of the consumer advocate to proceedings that involve accounting, financing, and utility rates.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.