STAND. COM. REP. NO.  755-18

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2018

 

RE:   H.B. No. 2727

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 2727 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CONSUMER PROTECTION,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to protect consumers from predatory video game mechanisms by establishing certain disclosure requirements for publishers of video games that contain a system to purchase a randomized reward or virtual item.

 

     The Hawaii Youth Services Network and several concerned individuals testified in support of this measure.  The Retail Merchants of Hawaii, Entertainment Software Association, and an individual testified in opposition to this measure.  The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs provided comments.  

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Appropriating an unspecified amount of funds for the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to audit the codes of video games sold in Hawaii;

 

     (2)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion; and

 

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2727, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2727, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

ROY M. TAKUMI, Chair