STAND. COM. REP. NO. 105

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 329

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which was referred S.B. No. 329 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CONDOMINIUMS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to remove the publication requirement and permit the board of directors of a condominium association to proceed directly to the sale, storage, donation, or disposal of personalty that has been abandoned in or on the common elements of a condominium when the identity or address of the owner is unknown.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Community Associations Institute, Associa, Palehua Townhouse Association, Honolulu Tower AOAO, and three individuals.

Your Committee finds that abandoned bicycles, surfboards, appliances, furniture, and other personal items left on common elements of condominium property is a frequent problem. Abandoned personal property is often an eyesore and can create safety hazards for other residents, especially when space is limited. The current process to dispose of abandoned items is burdensome, costly, and lengthy. This measure simplifies the process for boards to more easily dispose of abandoned property and eliminates the requirement of publishing expensive notices in the newspaper.

Your Committee has amended this measure by clarifying that the board shall provide thirty, rather than sixty, days' written notice to a known owner before selling, storing, donating, or disposing of the personalty.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 329, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 329, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

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

________________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair