STAND. COM. REP. NO. 852

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 948

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 948 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO GOVERNMENTAL RETENTION OF ATTORNEYS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to authorize the Division of Financial Institutions (Division) of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to employ or retain attorneys.

 

     Specifically, this measure removes the restriction that the Division may hire attorneys only for actions involving the mortgage loan recovery fund.

 

     The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs submitted written comments in support of this measure.

 

Your Committee finds that bank departments in forty states have staff attorneys that assist in drafting enforcement orders and providing guidance.  Your Committee recognizes that, while existing law authorizes the Division to employ and retain attorneys for actions involving the mortgage loan recovery fund, almost all of the Division's legal needs are outside the scope of the current authorization.  Your Committee finds that this measure would authorize the Division to hire staff attorneys, whose abilities to confer on potential legal and regulatory issues, conduct legal research, and provide options and recommendations for resolution would enhance the Division's efficiency and capacity. 

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 948 and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

 

 

 

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair