STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3750

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2481

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 2481, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TIME SHARE COMMISSIONERS OF DEEDS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to repeal chapter 503B, Hawaii Revised Statutes, which governs the Time Share Commissioners of Deeds.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of the Lieutenant Governor.

Your Committee finds that, to increase the efficiency and convenience for foreign buyers to purchase local time share properties and boost the State's tourism industry, Act 277, Session Laws of Hawaii 2013, codified as chapter 503B, Hawaii Revised Statutes, authorizes the Lieutenant Governor to appoint time share commissioners of deeds to administer oaths and take acknowledgments, proofs of deeds, and other foreign instruments in connection with the execution of conveyance documents relating to time share properties in the State. According to testimony received by your Committee, there are no discernable records of any Lieutenant Governor appointing any commissioners of deeds or the adoption of any administrative rules pursuant to chapter 503B, Hawaii Revised Statutes. Your Committee additionally finds that Act 54, Session Laws of Hawaii 2020, updated and conformed state law regarding notaries public and current notary practices to address notarial acts performed for remotely located individuals, including foreign buyers of local time share properties. This measure therefore eliminates any statutory redundancy regarding the ability of foreign buyers to execute certain documents to purchase time share properties in the State.

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. 2481, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

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KARL RHOADS, Chair