S.B. 1438 Summary

• Transfers the Office of Consumer Protection from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to the Department of the Attorney General, with the Attorney General serving as director and appointing an executive director who must be a licensed attorney exempt from civil service.

• Creates a new consumer protection chapter establishing the office's functions including coordinating consumer protection activities across state and county agencies, investigating violations, adopting rules, and enforcing consumer protection laws.

• Establishes an 11-member Consumer Advisory Council appointed by the governor with at least one member from each county to provide advisory support to the office.

• Grants the executive director authority to subpoena witnesses, conduct investigations and hearings, accept assurances of voluntary compliance, and bring civil actions to enjoin unfair or deceptive practices and unlicensed activities.

• Amends multiple Hawaii Revised Statutes sections to replace references to former Chapter 487 provisions with new consumer protection framework and grant the executive director concurrent jurisdiction with the Attorney General to enforce consumer protection laws.

• Takes effect July 1, 2112.