STAND. COM. REP. NO.1518

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2001

RE: H.B. No. 1115

S.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 1115 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE ADMISSIBILITY OF PAID BILLS IN COURT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to allow a bill for goods or services that has been paid to be admitted into evidence as proof of the authenticity of the bill, and of the fairness, reasonableness, and appropriateness of the charges, without testimony of the provider of the goods or services.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Judiciary, Hawaii State Bar Association, and Consumer Lawyers of Hawaii.

This measure is intended to facilitate and expedite judicial proceedings by easing technical proof requirements in particular cases, and requiring prior notice and proper procedures in admitting a paid-up bill into evidence.

Your Committee has amended this measure to clarify the language in subsection (a) of the new statutory section, on the recommendation of the Judiciary.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1115, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1115, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,

____________________________

BRIAN KANNO, Chair